Monday, 19 December, SHARJAH (UAE): Championship leader Emma-Nellie Ortendahl will start race 1 of the UIM-ABP Aquabike Grand Prix of Sharjah from pole position after dominating today’s official qualifying.

The 18-year-old from Alvangen in Sweden needed just one lap to stamp her authority over the 10 rider field, posting a fastest lap of 1:55.84s in the 15 minute session on her first of five laps around the 30-pin 2000 metre circuit on Khalid Lagoon to claim her fourth pole of the year.

France’s Estelle Poret was 7.16 Seconds off the pace, with Sweden’s Jonna Borgstrom taking her best qualifying position of the year a further two seconds back in third.

Tomorrow the Swedish rider will bid for her first world title and is where she needs to be to control the race and needs just four points, with her only title challenger Jennifer Menard starting in fourth. “Of course I am pleased to be on pole and especially to take it by seven seconds,” said Ortendahl. “I think I could have gone quicker but wanted to relax a bit, save my energy and there was no need to push the bike.
 

“Tomorrow is a big day for me but I want to win the title in the best way possible and that is to win the race.”

For full classifications:www.aquabike.net/results