"That's an awesome format of racing. It's close and fast and the crowd seemed to love it. We were the only team that tested the format in early practice, so it obviously paid off" Mike DeFrees (OCM)
Tim McDonald and Mike DeFrees of Oregon Custom Marine (OCM) got the P1 SuperStock USA Championship off to a winning start by claiming the Match Racing title and pole position for Heat 1 in St Cloud.
After a 2 hour delay due to inclement weather, the unique Match Racing format thrilled the thousands of patient fans, with its fast paced, elimination format.
All 8 boats took to the start line in a standing start and drag-raced 500 yards to the finish line, with Treadwell / Pier57 Racing eliminated in the first round. Rounds 2 to 5 saw Coors Light, Ocala Gran Prix, Camping World and Myco eliminated with OCM showing exceptional form off the start line and clearly showed it was a team to be reckoned with in this format of racing with 4 wins from the first 5 rounds.
With just Peters & May, Livorsi and OCM remaining, Livorsi couldn't find the late pace it had showed in early heats, allowing Peters & May and OCM to proceed to the first Match Racing final of 2012.
With just 2 feet separating the the teams at the quarter mile mark, OCM came up victorious and claimed the Match Racing title and the all important pole position for tomorrow's first Championship race of the 2012 season.
This was the first powerboat race in St. Cloud for three years, as part of the 2012 “Spring Fling” presented by the Rotary Club of St. Cloud.
"It's great to be on pole for the first round tomorrow" Tim McDonald (OCM)
Match Racing Final Standings
1st - Oregon Custom Marine
2nd - Peters & May
3rd - Livorsi
4th - Myco
5th - Camping World
6th - Ocala Grand Prix
7th - Coors Light
8th - Treadwell / Pier57
