Hondas Scorching Finale At Lowestoft

Competitors in both the 150hp and 225hp powerboat classes took to the sea to compete in the third leg of the Honda Championship. Crowds came in their thousands lining the sun trapped promenade in order to get the best seats to watch the stars of the Honda series race. The teams produced some professional yet close to the edge action with the 150hp fleet kicking off the day. Initially leading the fleet were Team Ebel, until they fell back through the fleet allowing Drainstore.com to take the lead with a spectacular finale to the finish line after their tight battle in the early stages with trailing team Salcombe Racing in second and Mandy Cowley of Lowestoft who navigated her way into an impressive third place position in Team Purple. With the beach at almost full capacity the 225hp fleet jumped into action. In an un-missable incident in the first 225hp race. Championship leaders Negotiator took to a fighting start in the top three with Scream-it.com leading the pack, then taking a tight turn the Plymouth team managed to lose Navigator Nathan Libby as the 225 almost rolled on the course. Re-gaining all crew the team set off again to fight their way back up through the pack. One more unfortunate incident saw the Delmar crew thrown out of their vessel to be flanked by Team Williams who came to render assistance. Delmar attempted to continue but due to mechanical failure had to withdraw during the same lap. Meanwhile heightsofabraham.com jumped in to second place and in a miraculous chase after Scream-it.com they took the lead leaving the yellow boat in their wake. In a proud moment during this afternoon’s prize giving Husband and Wife team Rupert and Sophie Pugh took the top podium position alongside local competitors Miss Toft II Lings who secured a well raced second and RealPlayer in 3rd. Lowestoft’s local hero’s driver David Cowley and navigator Paul Barkshire showed home crowds that they can still fight a good battle by taking an amazing 1st in the final race of the day as they flew across the finish line into the chequered flag making victory for themselves and the local Lings Honda Dealership. “It was a superb victory on the back of us having gear box problems on Saturday which just shows the credentials we have as a team as we came back today to race again. We can’t wait until Liverpool. Last year we made a promise to win the 150hp and we did, but I must say we are going through a learning curve with our new 225hp boat but we will remain optimistic”, said Paul Barkshire. Councillor Frank Mortimer Mayor of Lowestoft was present at the Prize Giving Ceremony along with Geoff Mathews, Head of Honda UK who had the following to say, “This was one of the best Honda F4SA weekends ever. It was fantastic, nobody got hurt, great weather, great crowds and some of the best racing we have seen to date.” The Honda series is moving on to Liverpool for the forth leg of the 2008 series on August 16th and 17th followed by the Championships in the Isle of Man in September.