ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates – Monday, March 1, 2010 – It's coming from three different directions, in three different countries, on two different continents, it's the rolling thunder of a determined group of individuals working together for one goal; gaining back the UIM F1 H2O World Championship for powerboating for the 2010 season.
The newly named Mad Croc F1 Team, based out of the racing headquarters of Italian veteran Massimo Roggiero in Busto Arsizio, Italy, has had the 2007 World Champion Sami Selio working at break neck speed with long time friend and collaborator Roggiero. Between the two, they have been spending many days fine tuning and improving on his latest BABA boat design for the upcoming campaign while hoping to improve on his world record breaking total of eight pole positions he established last season in his BABA hull.
“We had a shot at the title, finishing with a victory and taking third overall in the championship at the last race a year ago was good, but we fell short of our goal and now we are working harder than ever to get back on the top step for 2010,” said Sami. “We have what we call our 'Triangle of Trust' between myself, Massimo and our engine 'guru' Alex Hledin in Montreal, Canada. Even though we are in three different places and come from three different nations, we all speak the same language, asking each other what it will take to win the title back this upcoming season?”
Another change for the team in 2010 will be Sami's new teammate in talented Italian newcomer Alex Carella who is the reigning UIM F1000 World Champion and multiple winner in F2 despite his young age of 24.
“He's going to be a great addition to our team,” said Selio. “He's young, talented and dedicated to bringing the MAD CROC F1 Team a Team Championship this season as well as hopefully my second world title. I am going to have Massimo work with him teaching him and using his knowledge of the sport that only a person with 105 career starts could give someone. It's going to be an exciting time for the whole team I can just feel it and it starts with hard work in the off season as well.”
Speaking of hard work, Selio when not in Italy, is training everyday in his winter home on Tenerife getting in the best shape of his career leading to the opening Grand Prix weekend of May 8th and 9th on the edge of the Algarve in picturesque Portimao, Portugal for the 12th Annual Grand Prix of Portugal.
Sami has started 12 races in Portimao with his best finish being his only podium appearance with a 2nd place finish at the 2002 event. He will be looking not to repeat his last years results failing to finish both races and leaving Portugal with no points and chasing the championship from that point on from behind. This is a story he doesn't want to repeat this year.
Veteran Massimo Roggiero will be the team's “spare” driver and will work with rookie Carella throughout the upcoming campaign and be his eye's and ears communicating with him during each Grand Prix event on shore.
If anyone were to give out trophy's for hard work and pre-season preparation the MAD CROC F1 Team working from both Europe and North America would already be on the podium. Selio is giving fair warning to all other race teams on this years UIM F1 H2O World Championship, beware, the “Finnish Flier” is coming to push for pole position and a podium at a race near your you in 2010!
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