Friday, 16 August, VLADIVOSTOK (Russia): Portugal’s Samuka Racing grabbed their first win of Russky Offshore 2013 and the title race thrown wide open today when the seemingly invincible points’ leader and double heat winner Jean-Bruno Pastorello stopped on the final circuit of heat 3.
What was shaping up to be a repeat of heat 2 with Pastorello out front and the Portuguese stealing the advantage for the runners-up slot from Russia’s Alexsei Chernukha on the final lap, Pastorello pulled up and out of the race with a faltering engine. “I don’t know what the problem was but I lost power and decided to stop to avoid doing any serious damage,” said Pastorello after being towed in. “Of course it is disappointing but we still have two more heats and we are still leading.”
After failing to score points in heat 1 the Portuguese team has bounced back to deliver two emphatic performances, today’s win by over two minutes the result of a herculean effort by Antonio Curtinhal who rode all of the four legs, moving them up the leader board and into third place.
The last second call by the team not to change riders on the final leg to gain time in the pit stop proved invaluable. “Our strategy today was the same, a quick final pit stop and attack on the last leg, but the difference was that Chernukha's bike seemed quicker today, maybe because of the conditions, ” said Antonio Curtinhal. “But on the last leg I took better lines and closed the gap and passed him and then saw Pastorello with a problem and really pushed hard.”
The Portuguese strategy of use of rider and when and who goes out is paying off and they still have to play their best hand and will unleash rough water specialist Filipe Filipe if the expected change in conditions over the next two days happen. “Carlos and I [Curtinhal] have taken it on yesterday and today as these conditions suit us but when it comes to rough water Filipe is our best rider.” said Curtinhal. “Now we can see some light at the end of the tunnel and I think we can win, but we [team] all know it will be very difficult.”
For the second time in two days Alexsei Chernukha followed the Portuguese home but his consistency with three solid points finishes puts him in second place just three points shy of leader Pastorello.
Behind Chernukha a quartet of Russian riders locked out the top six, Michael Karpov getting his best finish and leading in Alexander Shishov, Eugeni Kalyachkin and Ivan Kulbabsky.
The Thailand-Turkish duo, Oraphan Teerapatpanich and Ali Komsusu picked up their best result so far finishing eighth behind Spanish outfit Maremoto Jets, despite Komsusu parting company with his bike, but Russia’s Denis Belikov’s hope of title success are fading after failing to start today's heat after breaking his engine yesterday.
Today’s result closes up the points table with just six points separating the top four, and with two days remaining and 50 points still on offer, Russky Offshore is heading for a nail biting finale.
HEAT 3 results:
1 12 Samuka Racing PT 4 02:07:48.18 00:00:00.00 25
2 37 Team Russia 37 RU 4 02:10:01.92 00:02:13.74 20
3 32 Team Russia 32 RU 4 02:13:51.84 00:06:03.66 16
4 58 Team Russia 58 RU 4 02:16:14.60 00:08:26.42 13
5 21 Team Russia 21 RU 4 02:16:42.71 00:08:54.53 11
6 14 Team Russia 14 RU 4 02:22:54.72 00:15:06.54 10
7 55 Maremoto Jets ES 4 02:23:46.46 00:15:58.28 9
8 77 Team Turkey TR 4 02:25:56.51 00:18:08.33 8
9 39 Team Portugal PT 4 02:26:50.79 00:19:02.61 7
10 25 Team Russia 25 RU 4 02:31:31.79 00:23:43.61 6
777 Team Russia 777 RU 4 02:32:12.30 00:24:24.12 5
12 50 Team Russia 50 RU 4 02:38:40.72 00:30:52.54 4
13 8 Team France FR 3 01:33:39.34 DNF
14 971 VICK Team GP 3 02:32:34.19 DNF
15 4 Foks Moto Woman RU 0 DNF
16 5 Team Russia 5 RU 0 DNS
17 27 Team Russia 27 RU 0 DNS
18 78 Team Russia 78 RU 0 DNF
19 88 Team Finland FI 0 DNS
Race Time Limit: 02:50:24.24