"Last year I left Malta from hospital. This time, I am returning home with the chequered flag," Marco Pennesi said at the end of the Malta Grand Prix of the Sea last weekend.
"If we can start the race in front of everyone, yes we can do it, especially when the engines respond in perfect harmony."
The Evolution Class pilot suffered a setback 12 months ago in Malta when he was hospitalised after sustaining injuries in a race incident but this year, Pennesi caught the eye for the right reasons after leading Metamarine Corse to overall victory.
This was a double Italian triumph - SuperSport and Evolution producing two Italy teams as outright winners of the Malta race.
Old lion Renato Guidi took the honours in SuperSport together with his experienced team-mates Stefano Acanfora and Vittorio Manzillo.
"We won with an old boat, old engines and after all I am the oldest driver in the fleet," Guidi remarked.
"Believe it or not, it's the reflexes and quick decisions that win a race of this magnitude."
To a certain extent, the UIM World Championship survived the risk of not being held this year.
Without little time to recover from the shock announcement that P1 had decided to end their six-year association with the championship, the national powerboat federations stepped in with their individual sponsors to host these Grands Prix, starting with Yalta and more recently Malta.
The participating teams gave their thumbs-up for the organisation of the Malta GP which also ensured that this year's championship will continue as planned.
Having won three times in Malta, reigning Evolution champion Giancarlo Cangiano was determined to defend the title but spin-offs and engine problems forced him to retire in both races, even though he had claimed the Power Pole honours in style, registering the fastest lap with 1:45.99.
Lucas Oil picked the third spot twice in as many Evolution races to secure a second podium overall place to the delight of both pilots, American Nigel Hook and his Swedish team-mate Michael Silfverberg.
But, perhaps, the silver lining of this Grand Prix was the triumph of newcomers Karelpiu in the SuperSport Class Sprint Race. On Saturday, the father and son combination of Antonio and Giuseppe Schiano got the better of everyone in just 38 mins 46.82 seconds.
Meanwhile, lots of interest was shown by the public visiting the GPS World Championship village in Sliema last weekend.
Young enthusiasts, accompanied by parents in most cases, were given access to the dry pits where most obtained a signed autograph by Maltese pilot Aaron Ciantar, the world champion.
Ciantar missed last weekend's races as his Ukrainian Spirit boat has yet to be fitted with new engines.
Standings (top five)
Evolution: 1. Metamarine (Italy) 74 points; 2. Furnibo (Belgium) 53; 3. SNAV Kiton (Italy) 45; 4. Cranefield Wine (Germany) 35; 5. Lucas Oil (Sweden) 29.
SuperSport: 1. Baia Attolini (Italy) 77 points; 2. Spirit of Belgium (Belgium) 49; 3. Big Sergio (Italy) 44; Seagull Chaudron (Ukraine) 42; 5. Karelpiu (Italy) 32. Teddie Borg