Tuesday, 27 October: For the last five years the accolade of UIM-ABP Ski GP1 World Champion has belonged to either Jeremy or Mickael Poret, but the French brothers are staring down the barrel of a gun and the Poret reign is in dire straits.

It is a remarkable achievement by Jeremy, 27, and Mickael, 28, but with just the final Grand Prix of the year in Sharjah on 19-20 December the two have a mountain to climb to try to overhaul points’ leader Kevin Reiterer who took overall victory in Italy and China and second-placed Nacho Armillas, who won in Qatar.

For both the numbers don’t look good but the permutations are many; Reiterer is on top with 111 points, Armillas 10 back, then Mickael and Jeremy 17 and 20 points in arrears of the leader.

Family ties will be put to one side and with 50 points on offer both need wins desperately and then hope that the other and their rivals falter.

Mickael Poret, who earlier in the year clinched the European title is enjoying one of his best seasons, launched the Poret reign in 2010 with three heat wins and two GP titles, his second title coming in 2013 – his brother absent – with his two main rivals Sousa and Monti dq’d at the final race of the year in Abu Dhabi.

Jeremy Poret’s three world title haul is impressive, winning in 2011, 2012 and 2014 notching up 15 heat wins and 10 GP victories. But the defending champion will be ruing the tumble he took in race 1 in Italy and the black flag he was shown in race 2 China.

Whilst the outcome of the championship remains uncertain, what is guaranteed is a spectacular season showdown in Sharjah.