The Powerboat P1 season get going with the first Power Pole in Malta with 43 Seagull claiming the SuperSport timing and 88 SNAV OSG taking Evolution honours, but the talking at the pits where all dedicated to the incident involving the 53 Metamarine Pignolo boat during sea test just half an hour before the official start.
Metamarine was involved according to testimonies in a 360 spin out while going out from Valletta's Grand Harbour, and later on at a slow speed went on to hit the harbours break water. Both drivers at the helm Marco Pennessi and Max Ferrari where taken to hospital, one suffering from slight and the other from grievous injuries, but both stable and comfortable after the accident. The boat according to Metamarine stuff suffered non mechanical damage with hull, propellers and rudders looking good, but the topsides mostly the engine hatch and closed cockpit wind shield showed all signs with the impact to the water.
In Supersport the domination of the Chaudrons seem to continue with both the new 43 Seagull and double title winner Racing Project 44 Ikocasa taking one and two. Third place for 38 Baia Attolini who are over eight seconds late from the 2008 title winning drivers and there new boat, sister to the 2008 and 2007 winning hull but powered with new Ilmor engines. 17 Mas Force with renowned and longer boat in the Supersport fleet 43 Nortech boat came fourth. Team Al&Al will feel a disappointment pinch with there new Blue Shaft placing sixth, and the old no.28 Big Sergio fifth. Lastly British Wreckless Team 26 did also a fine job placing initially fourth, but a miss to a pole put them in last place. We spoke to Kim Collins the team driver who told us after competing as a wild card in Vigo in 2008, wants to make all his best to win as much as he can for the first full season. Kim Collins also explained Team 26 important project racing in this season with a Donzi 38 ZR, but also a plan for a new boat in the future. Still Team 26 managed to compete just in time as two hoses where managed to be fixed before the start of the pole.
In Evolution team OSG seems to want a repeat of its previous successes in Malta, by taking the Powerpole for close to two seconds from the other new Outerlimits Lucas Oil boat. Worth to note that Team OSG won the 2007 and 2008 Malta Grand Prix. 47 Silverline making the step from Supersport to Evolution will be happy of there third place, and Cranefields Wine missed completely the buoy during the run up therefore losing time and placing last from the competing boats. Cigarette Smash Poker did not start after having trouble with one engine during the sea trials.
OFFICIAL TIMINGS:
SuperSport
1. #43 Seagull 03:27.92
2. #44 Ikocasa 03:31.00
3. #38 Baia-Attolini 03:36.64
4. #17 MasForce 03:42.14
5. #22 Big Sergio 03:51.55
6. #28 Blue Shaft 04:36.81
7. #26 Wreckless 03:42.14 *missed pole
Evolution
1. #88 SNAV OSG 03:02.88
2. #77 Lucas Oil Budweiser 03:04.68
3. #47 Silverline 03:22.45
4. #66 Cranefields Wine 04:42.45
5. #10 Cigarette Smash Poker Did not start
6. #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53 Did not start
Metamarine was involved according to testimonies in a 360 spin out while going out from Valletta's Grand Harbour, and later on at a slow speed went on to hit the harbours break water. Both drivers at the helm Marco Pennessi and Max Ferrari where taken to hospital, one suffering from slight and the other from grievous injuries, but both stable and comfortable after the accident. The boat according to Metamarine stuff suffered non mechanical damage with hull, propellers and rudders looking good, but the topsides mostly the engine hatch and closed cockpit wind shield showed all signs with the impact to the water.
In Supersport the domination of the Chaudrons seem to continue with both the new 43 Seagull and double title winner Racing Project 44 Ikocasa taking one and two. Third place for 38 Baia Attolini who are over eight seconds late from the 2008 title winning drivers and there new boat, sister to the 2008 and 2007 winning hull but powered with new Ilmor engines. 17 Mas Force with renowned and longer boat in the Supersport fleet 43 Nortech boat came fourth. Team Al&Al will feel a disappointment pinch with there new Blue Shaft placing sixth, and the old no.28 Big Sergio fifth. Lastly British Wreckless Team 26 did also a fine job placing initially fourth, but a miss to a pole put them in last place. We spoke to Kim Collins the team driver who told us after competing as a wild card in Vigo in 2008, wants to make all his best to win as much as he can for the first full season. Kim Collins also explained Team 26 important project racing in this season with a Donzi 38 ZR, but also a plan for a new boat in the future. Still Team 26 managed to compete just in time as two hoses where managed to be fixed before the start of the pole.
In Evolution team OSG seems to want a repeat of its previous successes in Malta, by taking the Powerpole for close to two seconds from the other new Outerlimits Lucas Oil boat. Worth to note that Team OSG won the 2007 and 2008 Malta Grand Prix. 47 Silverline making the step from Supersport to Evolution will be happy of there third place, and Cranefields Wine missed completely the buoy during the run up therefore losing time and placing last from the competing boats. Cigarette Smash Poker did not start after having trouble with one engine during the sea trials.
OFFICIAL TIMINGS:
SuperSport
1. #43 Seagull 03:27.92
2. #44 Ikocasa 03:31.00
3. #38 Baia-Attolini 03:36.64
4. #17 MasForce 03:42.14
5. #22 Big Sergio 03:51.55
6. #28 Blue Shaft 04:36.81
7. #26 Wreckless 03:42.14 *missed pole
Evolution
1. #88 SNAV OSG 03:02.88
2. #77 Lucas Oil Budweiser 03:04.68
3. #47 Silverline 03:22.45
4. #66 Cranefields Wine 04:42.45
5. #10 Cigarette Smash Poker Did not start
6. #53 Metamarine Pignolo 53 Did not start