September 9, 2007

Powerboat P1 - Belgium Grand Prix of the Sea, Kings of Shaves & Extremeboat extend lead

1 Grand Prix 2 races -110 points for Roscioli Hotels Roma to try and win Supersport 2007 title
Same Script for OSG 2006 Evolution Class winner but - 130 points
The P1 weekend in Belgium was an action packed competitive offer in both classes and unusual to previous races in the 2007 season, we finally had a different winner in the same venue, as Lucas Oil Outerlimits won Race 2 in Evolution Class. Extremeboat continue to extend there championship lead in the production Supersport Class as they won both races as they did in Britain 2 weeks ago. It was a weekend for the title challengers to gain important points in there respective classes, but the leaders ended the Belgium Grand Prix with more confidence as ever, extending there lead with more points as both came out as winners in this fifth penultimate round.
Race 1
Conditions contributed to a high attrition rate and only two boats completed the course with OSG second despite suffering a broken hull. The Way to Happiness finished third, the first points finish of the season for this Italian team. Points and a podium must surely be the way to happiness! The main protagonists in Evolution, King of Shaves, OSG and Lucas Oil Outerlimits made a storming start with all three reaching the first buoy together. OSG, the reigning world champions, knew that to improve their title challenge they would need to finish ahead of championship leaders, King of Shaves. The same could be said of Lucas Oil and both boats set the early pace, OSG taking the lead. Behind them, King of Shaves was settling into an early rhythm and by the end of the first lap the Ilmor-powered Fountain was leading with Lucas Oil Outerlimits closely following. It was 'nip and tuck' all the way and once the Italian OSG boat backed off a two-boat battle ensued. It was a fascinating race between these two arch rivals in which the lead changed hands four times before the half way point when Lucas Oil Outerlimits started to take control. Then drama! As the American boat entered the home straight for the final lap it suddenly slowed as the fuel ran out, King of Shaves re-took the lead with OSG in pursuit. For the Belgian entry, Limmi Offshore, it was not the dream home race as technical problems forced the team to retire on lap 3.
A racing masterclass on ExtremeBoat, secured the husband and wife team its third consecutive SuperSport win in the first leg of the Powerboat P1 Belgian Grand Prix of the Sea. The Mercury-powered Dragon boat was clearly on a mission from the moment the start flag dropped, taking the lead at the first buoy and forging ahead of the field to increase its championship lead. Only Roscioli Hotels Roma, the Italian title challenger was able to stay within striking distance and its well deserved second place finish. VoomVoom.com, deservedly took third place, the first diesel powered boat to cross the chequered flag, with the FPT-powered Sunseeker crossing the line in fourth. The distinctive Rigid Inflatable of 'wild card' entry Flanders Offshore Racing, provided great entertainment for the enthusiastic home crowd crossing the finish in fifth place.
Race 2
Fountain Worldwide took the Powerboat P1 Belgian Grand Prix of the Sea, following up on Race One victory with a fifth place on the second leg. The pair's early pace and front-line battle with the American Lucas Oil-Outerlimits would however end by lap three when the boat lost power in one engine and with it any chance of a race win. The drama continued as they crossed the finishing line, losing power in the second. Lucas Oil Outerlimits, completed an impressive days racing, securing victory in today's second leg and with it third in the Grand Prix. The win from German team Searex and Italians OSG was a major boost for the team but its title ambitions are no more following yesterday's disappointment when, with a commanding lead, the boat ran out of fuel just one lap from the chequered flag. OSG, the defending champions from Naples, Italy demonstrated once again why they are so highly respected as racers and sportsmen. as on Race One, the boat was badly broken in the choppy seas and effectively ended the team's championship challenge. But true champions do not know defeat and if the maths stack-up OSG, will continue to fight for points. The team worked all night to patch up the damage and whilst not at peak performance they managed to bring the boat home in third to secure second place in the Grand Prix and keep their championship hopes alive. King of Shaves now has a lead over OSG of 150 points in the fight for the world championship with only the Portuguese Grand Prix to contest. Having failed to start yesterday, the German entry of Searex showed the performance of their 42ft Fountain powered by Mercury engines by taking an early lead and later re-taking it when Lucas Oil appeared to be about to forge ahead. It was a brilliant racing performance, surprising many of the championship front runners and proving that their pre-race testing on the Baltic's choppy waters would pay dividends in today's rough conditions. SIF, the Italian wild card entry demonstrated the competitiveness of their diesel powered wild card entry, always in contention with the leaders and finishing a creditable fourth on the day. ExtremeBoat, the British Dragon boat won the Powerboat P1 Belgian Grand Prix of the Sea, its double win moves the team into a commanding position in the SuperSport World Championship with just the Portuguese Grand Prix remaining. The lead changed hands no fewer than four times in today's shorter race. The diesel-powered Voom Voom, where very close to have the first win of the season and only a last lap navigational blip prevented this to happen. The choppy seas and blustery conditions had forced a late change to the course layout and a 30 minute delay. Boosted by their performances in yesterday's first leg, VoomVoom and ExtremeBoat made the early pace, followed closely by Roscioli Hotels Roma, Buzzi Bullet and Sun Lik Beer. These five are the championship's leading boats and a 'ding dong' battle was always on the cards as the season builds to its climax. It was a day for the diesels, all of whom featured strongly. In Belgium first leg, Roscioli Hotels Roma, suffered propeller damage and this clearly affected their attempts to overhaul the leading boats. In the circumstances a third place today and runners-up spot in the two-legged Grand Prix was an excellent effort. VoomVoom took third spot overall and have now appeared on the podium at the last two events. The focus now switches to the final event of the season in Portimao, Portugal over the weekend of the 29/30 September where the championship will be decided. For the third consecutive season the titles will be claimed in the final weekend of the season, a reflection on the competitiveness of Powerboat P1. In Evolution Class OSG have shown that they can still challenge a title till the last race even if this was not there best of seasons. In Supersport, ExtremeBoat has established a strong lead, its main contenders, Italian team Roscioli Hotels Roma and the British Buzzi Bullet are still within striking distance.

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