Geico / sbi release 2015
12-06-2014 | 06:16 PM
#12
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,339
Likes: 1
From: Florida
12-06-2014 | 06:28 PM
#15
Registered
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,042
Likes: 712
From: Toledo Oh
Ok...sure I will bite.... new org pops up out of nowhere, flush with money, Steve is the accidental president... This new org previously unknown is 'chosen' by qatar to put on the qatar cup and this same org that qatar is part of but not part of will put on a 5 race series in florida featuring the same classes etc but qatar wont be involved Got it... I will now stick my head back in the sand.
12-06-2014 | 06:43 PM
#16
Registered
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 55
From: Cape coral, FL
Agreed phragle. That's qatars branch. Lol. They can spin it how they want but Stevie wonder can see opgp is backed by Qatar.
One funny thing, if I'm not mistaken, geico won't insure these boats. Lol. I like geico and have them for everything but they won't insure performance boats. Seems odd to me not to insure em but you'll back the race series.
One funny thing, if I'm not mistaken, geico won't insure these boats. Lol. I like geico and have them for everything but they won't insure performance boats. Seems odd to me not to insure em but you'll back the race series.
12-06-2014 | 06:46 PM
#17
Registered
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,042
Likes: 712
From: Toledo Oh
Former British Champion Powerboat racer Richard Carr has announced his support of Steve Curtis’ plans to launch an Offshore Powerboat Grand Prix (OPGP).
Five races planned for 2015
Rumours about a new series in powerboating to rival the likes of the Key West ‘World Championship’ first circulated earlier this month. SBI promoter John Carbonell shocked the world of powerboating when he banned the Spirt of Qatar Team from taking part in Key West because he believed they planned on launching a rival series.
At the time it was a strange decision, but based on the recent news coming out of Qatar about the series, Carbonell was well in his rights to be concerned.
The OPGP, under the Chairmanship of one of Britain’s most decorated powerboat racers Steve Curtis MBE, has five grand prix’s planned for the USA, whilst the Qatar Cup is likely to be staged in Doha Bay.
Interest from 50 teams
The new series will be ruled and backed by the Qatar Marine Sports Federation and although the series is still be officially announced, 50 teams from three classes have expressed an interest based on the series’ attractive financial package.
Interest in the OPGP has come from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the USA.
Teams taking part in the Qatar Cup will literally be paid for their presence on the start line. It has been reported that the shipping, airfares and accommodation costs will be paid for by the series as well as an appearance fee for each team.
Reports also suggest that the US races of the series will be staged in the State of Florida with the popular venue of Sarasota already signed up.
Carr supports new series
Richard Carr raced against and alongside Steve Curtis and believes that the OPGP is awesome news for the sport, which desperately needed a shot in the arm.
He is fully in support of the new series and wishes Steve good luck with the venture. Powerboat racing is the greatest motor sport on earth, and so deserves a lucky break, which in turn will hopefully attract global brands to sponsor teams.
Richard continued by saying he plans to compete in the series once he has concluded some personal issues; he loves racing and believes that the OPGP is the start of something special.
Five races planned for 2015
Rumours about a new series in powerboating to rival the likes of the Key West ‘World Championship’ first circulated earlier this month. SBI promoter John Carbonell shocked the world of powerboating when he banned the Spirt of Qatar Team from taking part in Key West because he believed they planned on launching a rival series.
At the time it was a strange decision, but based on the recent news coming out of Qatar about the series, Carbonell was well in his rights to be concerned.
The OPGP, under the Chairmanship of one of Britain’s most decorated powerboat racers Steve Curtis MBE, has five grand prix’s planned for the USA, whilst the Qatar Cup is likely to be staged in Doha Bay.
Interest from 50 teams
The new series will be ruled and backed by the Qatar Marine Sports Federation and although the series is still be officially announced, 50 teams from three classes have expressed an interest based on the series’ attractive financial package.
Interest in the OPGP has come from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the USA.
Teams taking part in the Qatar Cup will literally be paid for their presence on the start line. It has been reported that the shipping, airfares and accommodation costs will be paid for by the series as well as an appearance fee for each team.
Reports also suggest that the US races of the series will be staged in the State of Florida with the popular venue of Sarasota already signed up.
Carr supports new series
Richard Carr raced against and alongside Steve Curtis and believes that the OPGP is awesome news for the sport, which desperately needed a shot in the arm.
He is fully in support of the new series and wishes Steve good luck with the venture. Powerboat racing is the greatest motor sport on earth, and so deserves a lucky break, which in turn will hopefully attract global brands to sponsor teams.
Richard continued by saying he plans to compete in the series once he has concluded some personal issues; he loves racing and believes that the OPGP is the start of something special.
So this states that the Florida races are part of the series, not a separate entity...........
I,, not stating Iam for or against it, infact a true world competition would be cool. Im just stating what I have read an that all the smoke and mirrors in a sport with a colorfull history of alterior motives... Now to add more "what the....." to the scenario.. Qieco is now sponsoring SBI, when not to long ago Gieco SUED SBI for breach of contract over CBS coverage, but now opgp is announcing CBS coverage...
And SBI did ban Qatar from key west....
Really...if you got a bunch of people in the sport together in a bar, got everyone completely drunk and the asked them to create a more contrieved story, would it even be possible??
Last edited by phragle; 12-06-2014 at 06:50 PM.
12-06-2014 | 06:56 PM
#18
Registered
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,042
Likes: 712
From: Toledo Oh
Check this one out. http://speedonthewater.com/in-the-ne...pgp-presidency
“We will also run the Pro Class Championship category for the local boats in Qatar and the Turkish boats in a separate Offshore 225 class,” added Sheikh Hassan. “It will be a full week of racing activities with some additional jet-ski racing and I am sure these classes will attract a lot of support from the region.
“If things look good for 2016 - with a new five-race series in the United States - we could maybe do the same thing as we do with H1 and the Oryx Cup, whereby you accumulate points all year and have the final race in Qatar. We could, perhaps, have a National Championship and a Qatar Cup title at stake. It’s premature to go into details about this, but this could be the good aim for 2016 onwards.”
“If things look good for 2016 - with a new five-race series in the United States - we could maybe do the same thing as we do with H1 and the Oryx Cup, whereby you accumulate points all year and have the final race in Qatar. We could, perhaps, have a National Championship and a Qatar Cup title at stake. It’s premature to go into details about this, but this could be the good aim for 2016 onwards.”
12-06-2014 | 08:31 PM
#20
Platinum Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 25
I hope that it is a big step for Offshore and things to come for the future but to me it seems like it splits up everybody and in the long run and no one wins, hope I am wrong but its just a feeling I have that many race sites and fans may suffer with low boat counts.
