Bill Owen retains British Sprint Championship
Defending Champion Bill Owen retains Powerboat GP RYA British T850 Sprint Title
This weekend (4/5 August) at Stewartby Powerboat Racing Club in Bedford the 2012 Powerboat GP RYA British Sprint Champions were declared after a fantastic weekends racing that saw 40 teams compete for 7 individual titles.
Defending Champion
In the T850 Class Bill Owen (Lancashire) was looking to defend his 2011 Sprint title despite the pressure he knew he’d receive from the rest of the five boat fleet.
Qualifying
In qualifying it was Last of the Summer Wine Team mate David James that set the fastest lap of the session just half a second quicker than TopCat Racing’s Mike Pillow. Reigning Champion Bill Owen was forced to settle for third on the grid and hope for a good start to get him out in the lead.
3rd to 1st
In the first of three heats to count towards the championship Bill Owen got off to a flying start to take the lead in the race and despite the other racers being hot on his wake he held the lead from start to finish. With David James taking second and Jason Brewer finishing in third whilst Matthew Procter spun out on the top section of the race course and went for an early bath.
On Winning Form
Once in front Bill was determined that he would not give up his lead without a huge fight from his fellow competitors. From pole position in the second heat once again he took the lead into the first turn mark and again held until the chequered flag with Mike Pillow and David James battling it out for second and third respectively.
Hat trick of heat wins
In dominating form the third heat was no change for the defending champion and once again he took the first turn buoy in the lead and continued to hold on and keep the chasing field behind to take a hat trick of heat wins and secure the championship title.
Second and third would go down to the wire meaning one false move could cost any of the following three racers the silver medal spot. Determined to make up for an earlier mistake in heat 1 that cost him vital points TopCat Racing’s Mike Pillow was determined that the silver spot would be his and a fantastic battle ensued between him and David James. Pillow held on to second and James settled for third as the championship points were added up.
4 Points
Bill Owen retained his Championship title for the second year running as he was declared 2012 Powerboat GP RYA British T850 Sprint Champion. Just 4 points split the second and third place positions with Mike Pillow just stealing the silver medal from David James who was left to settle for Bronze.
Talking to the newly crowned champion he had this to say "Winning any race is excellent, winning the Sprints is special, but winning two years back to back was beyond my expectations especially as the class this year is so closely matched. It’s the first race I have won this year and my third place on the grid in qualifying didn’t bode well. I was disappointed but still hopeful, but never confident, not even at the start of the final heat after two wins "
He continued “This is my fourth championship in 5 years, I’ve now won 3 T850 Sprints, and the F2 national championship in 2010, but I could not have achieved any of it without the back up of a great team. So it’s thanks to them for making it happen.”
2012 Powerboat GP RYA British T850 Sprint Championship Standings
1st Bill Owen
2nd Mike Pillow
3rd David James
4th Jason Brewer
5th Matthew Procter