Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225hp team 'Fat Boy Racing' took the chequered flag in spectacular style over the weekend by claiming their second win at the Steam Packet Company Grand Prix on the Isle of Man.
Honda Formula 4-Stroke 225hp team ‘Fat Boy Racing’ took the chequered flag in spectacular style over the weekend by claiming their second win at the Steam Packet Company Grand Prix on the Isle of Man.
In a tense contest, Rob Lister and Will Nocker driving ‘Fat Boy Racing’ fought their way from fourth to first and then concentrated on putting water between them and challengers ‘Warmup’ and ‘Team Raymarine’. Jack Glendinning and Simon Bucknall in ‘Warmup’ held off Shelley Jory and Libby Keir in ‘Team Raymarine’ in a ferocious ten-lap battle for second place, only to run out of fuel within sight of the chequered flag.
“We were gutted,” said Bucknall, “We only needed another couple of litres and we’d have been on the podium.”
“We couldn’t believe it when we saw ‘Warmup’ stop,” said Keir. “We’d been trying so hard to overtake them for such a long time and then they just handed us second place. We actually thought we’d won as ‘Fat Boy Racing’ was so far ahead. When we eventually saw Rob and Will we were really disappointed!”
Completing the podium line-up were Rupert Pugh and Lee Darbyshire in “Heights of Abraham”. Newcomers to the series for 2005 the duo took their second podium finish of the weekend.
In the 150hp round Clive Coote and Paul Arthy in ‘X-Pole’ redeemed themselves in the second 150hp race after running out of fuel when leading the opening round. The duo led from the green to the chequered flag and were only really threatened by earlier winners Vernon Hunt and James Blake in ‘Extreme Chaos’. The ‘Extreme Chaos’ team could not repeat their earlier success however having to retire on lap seven with a loose oil water filter.
“We did exactly what we came here to do,” said Coote. “It’s a shame that Vernon retired as he was keeping us on our toes and really pushing us hard. There was no way we were letting him pass though after yesterday’s result! It’s our first ever win as well which makes our victory all the sweeter!”
Tony Crossley and Mark Glanville in “Delmar Flooring” took second place in the 150hp contest with Steve Amato and Andy Green in ‘Tarpon 219’ completing the podium line-up in third.
The action of the 2005 series moves to the Honda British Powerboat Grand Prix, Plymouth on the 16-17 July for rounds five and six of the championships.
