Qatar Cup On For February 2015
 

The latest update, http://speedonthewater.com/in-the-ne...-february-2015

TV will be huge!!

all kinds of questions: what classes? 12 teams from us? sounds pretty ambitious? if they can pull this off successfully and do it with the flair and exposure of uim, sbi could be in deep water.

This may be the biggest news in American offshore power boating in....well, possibly ever. What teams wouldn't want to join this race group with how well organized and professional it's run? Unifying all offshore racing on one front? That is by far the hugest hurdle in moving this sport in the direction of legitimate big time racing (F1, nascar, etc).

I'm actually interested and excited about offshore racing in the first time since they pulled the plug on F1 and F2. Can't wait to see how all this unfolds.

SBI is done stick a fork in it....

.

agreed! Massive!

I'd like to see competing in the outboard class a 30'/32' wide body Skater, Doug Wright, and Victory boats (XCat pictured below) all competing in the same venue.

Also would be great to see the victory boats compete throughout the 2015 competition year in the US

XCat Victory Powerboats are designed by Mannerfelt Design ==> http://www.mdteam.se/home.html

Photo Credit: http://www.xcatracing.com

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...13Raf_0363.jpg

I was amazed this past weekend by something I experienced. I'm watching the races and a group of 4 or 5 women are watching. You can tell they are really into it. I then ask which one would be on the sticks. They were like, huh... Then a little bit later I ask what do you think the helicopters are up there for? They go taking pictures. I said there divers in caase a boat flips. A couple more Q&A and you could tell they loved watching the races even more.

Point is I do think television could pull off a great audience. The commentators would have to dumb it down a little and really explain the aeordynamics, skill, and concept. That in itself would entertain a common person outside of boats..

Then put in the new fans of boating wanting to buy boats and all of a sudden boat builders get much more open to sponsorship.

Wonder how threatening to leave key west would go over now????

BY- totally agree!

And from what I've heard SBI is about done cause of it's owner Mr John C. Heard he was in rough shape.

Crap, that is a week before the Mia Show. Talk about having travel fatigue. Better get on my booking sites. :flag:

The #20 Spirit of Qatar raceboat, who is the manufacturer of that hull?

Smarty, you've been on here daily for 14 years and you dont recognize the 'humps" past the cockpit of an MTI??? I'm disapointed in you! :D

The former Reliable Carriers 42' MTI, no less.

That said, cut Smarty a break. It looks a lot different than it used to.

quisling

International racing is the real deal, John may have underestimated his position in racing, there is always someone in the shadows who can do it better and has more money, he is in for a fight he is going to regret. Who would no go for the recognition and exposure when someone else is picking up the tab ! John you really screwed up and awoke a sleeping Tiger.

still waaaay too early to say this is dead or that is dead....'prospectors' have come and gone before...this is a wait and see situation. one note of concern (to me) i have not heard of a single renowned team in the u.s. who has agreed to sign on to this.

I'm curious as to who is going over also. Why is this any different than last year? They had the same offer and it didn't happen.

the carcuses of OSS will be bangin on the sheiks door ! LOL

it's different from before because sbi has now banned qatar from racing. and OPGP has officially announced a 4 or 5 races series in the u.s. to compete directly with sbi. OPGP has also taken the sarasota race site from SBI. there is clearly a strong intent for this new group to organize...but the participant list still seems nebulous.only team that has officially declared participation is qatar, no less. http://www.offshorepowerboatgp.com/

where is billy moore from .

u.s.

I thought maybe they splashed it and had it built in Qatar...You should be disappointed in me, it has that distinctive MTI hump look you pointed out, I thought maybe they splashed an MTI, had it built in Qatar and were now calling a Victory, or some other race-boat builder overseas I have never heard of.....I put way too much thought into something that is readily apparent...yes shame on me, you are right to be disappointed

Nah, no one splashes an MTI! We all know a Victory is a splash of a skater, Randy hung Pete out to dry and built Victory boats over seas, Randy then came back and started his own US version copy of a skater/victory!

Sounds like it will be an excellent event and financially attractive for the Teams

So is the February race in Sarasota?

No

I just got back from Qatar. The country is amazing. I felt completely safe the entire time. Everyone was very nice. Almost everyone speaks english. The menu at all the restaurants we went to were in English. Eveything at the airport is in English. If you have the ability I highly encourage you to go, you will not regret it. I went to watch the F1H2O race and Shaun dominated the entire weekend. He won the pole, won the race and led every lap.

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So where is the February race then?

Qatar

Doha Bay, to put a fine point on it.

Sorry if it was unclear in the story that the race will be in Qatar. It didn't read that way to me, but then ... I wrote it so I'm the wrong person to make that call.

Same place they tried to have it last yr, I believe at the same time of yr also.