DOHA, Qatar - March 6, 2012 - It's been a rough five months but two time World Champion Sami Selio of the Mad Croc Team has returned to the UIM F1 H2O World Championship ready to make another run at the title.
His crash at the Grand Prix of China in Liuzhou in China kept him out of the line-up and a shot at the world's number one at the tail end of the 2011 season after taking top honors in 2007 and again in 2010 in the championship.
"I have worked extensively over the winter months to get back in tip top shape while building a new house in Finland and following the advice of my doctors to strengthen my eyesight once again to normal levels," said the 36 year-old. "I have passed all my tests and am ready to make a run at being a three time World Champion this season."
Sami starts his 14th season in the sport with 107 career starts and nine victories since coming over from F4 in 1998. He has 32 podium appearances in 67 race finishes and is one result away from reaching 50 top-five results. Selio is also averaging a 14% winning rate for every race he finishes.
"I've learned a lot in this sport and realize that you can't win it all in the first event of the season," said Selio. "We've started off poorly the last three years straight and I want to change that around this season. I earned pole position here last year only to drop out early in the race because of a mechanical issue and don't want to do that again time around. If we do well, right out of the starting gate it will help take some pressure off the team as we plan for the very difficult "summer season" that is ahead on the 2012 calendar."
The Finnish two-time World Champion is looking forward to starting his 10th Grand Prix race in Doha looking for his first victory after gaining a pair of podiums and four top-fives.
The 10th Grand Prix of Qatar along the corniche in Doha begins with qualifying for pole and the starting line-up on Friday afternoon and the following day with the Grand Prix to open the 2012 UIM F1 H2O World Championship.
Both the race and the Grand Prix can be followed at the official website of the UIM F1 H2O tour at www.f1h2o.com.
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