By WALTER ALIBEY Monday, January 23 2012

HERO III, driven by Hero Boodram and Neil Samaroo got off to an impressive start for 2012 with victory in all their races in the 80mph category at yesterday’s Trinidad and Tobago Powerboat Association (TTPBA) First Regatta at Pier 1 in Chaguaramas.

In an event that was hampered by an unusually low turnout due to the inclement weather conditions, only two boats contested the 80mph class and just one boat (Intense III) in the main 120 category in which Mr Solo was notably absent as well as newcomer Monster and last year’s winner Gulf Lubricants Fire One.

Yesterday it was Hero III that stole the spotlight as they claimed the win in the opening one-lap sprint in their class around an approximate seven-mile circuit. They won ahead of Alien which settled for the runner-up position as they were the only other competitor. In the 70 mph category, the team of Rite Formula which comprised Samantha and Ian Keizer secured the win ahead of Energiza in second and Chris Gone Wild in third.

Extreme Measures sped across the finish as the first boat in the 60-mph category in the one-lap sprint. Hero III also took the three-lap and four-lap 80mph events that followed.

In the three-lap, Hero III opened up a huge gap on the small field and maintained it to the finish.

Later they produced a similar performance in the final four-lap race of the day to cross the finish as the winner.

Rite Formula took the top spot in the three-lap race in the 70mph category with Energiza, Chris Gone Wild and Too High completing second, third and fourth respectively in the event.

The four-lap 70mph race was won by Chris Gone Wild while Extreme Measures secured the top spot in the 60mph category. Intense III expectedly won 120mph category as the lone competitor.

After the event, ordinary member of the TTPBA Darin Marshall said the poor turnout had been expected as it has been the trend at the start of every powerboat event annually.

However he revealed that Mr Solo and Monster were still dealing with damage to their engines.