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Contact: Marilyn DeMartini
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OUTERLIMITS BRINGS BACK THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
MIKE FIORE AND BOB RUSSELL TO RACE IN MALTA

As Outerlimits Powerboats fields two offshore racing teams, one in the U.S. with the Offshore Super Series (OSS) and one in Europe with Powerboat P1, scheduling became an unavoidable issue. With Joe Sgro and new driver John Makepeace, manning the new SV40 at the Lake Pickwick OSS race on May 5-6, Outerlimits selected Bob Russell to take the helm with Mike Fiore at throttles in the first Powerboat P1 race in Malta.

“We are fortunate to have two top-rate racers on our team,” says Fiore, “I am proud and happy to be in the boat with either Joe or Bob on any given day!” This race brings APBA PX Champions Russell and Fiore together again, after they won their second APBA PX Class World Champion, in 2002 in an Outerlimits 42 GTX. This year, the duo will race the SV40, the 2006 National and World Championship OSS Vee boat, which was modified to meet the Powerboat P1 specs. The canopy was cut to maintain the recreational standards for the European circuit, while the newly built OSS race boat maintains full canopy construction.

“We are very enthused about our first race with Powerboat P1!” exclaims Fiore, “We put a lot of time, money and effort into fielding this team, against a lot of heavy competition, so we are very happy to have some ‘big guns’ to bring to the races. Both Joe and Bob have a lot of racing experience and we are lucky to have their flexibility to meet these rigorous schedules.”

Russell is a long-time Outerlimits customer and friend and has owned every model of Outerlimits Powerboats built. His boat racing experience follows years in motorcross and flat track racing and in addition to the two World Championship titles he won with Fiore in 2001 and 2002, Russell won the King of the Hudson speed run at the New York City Poker run in an Outerlimits 42 Legacy and also earned the Lake Of the Ozarks Shoot Out title for Fastest Vee Bottom in his Outerlimits 42 GTX. In this same boat, he also set the APRA 2003 World Kilo Record for a Vee Bottom in Washington North Carolina at 147.61 mph and earned status in the Poker Runs America Hall of Fame.

The Powerboat P1 schedule begins in the historical Mediterranean port city of Valetta, Malta, then, moves to Naples, Italy, May 26-27. The team next travels to Travemunde, Germany, June 30-July 1, then to Cowes, in the UK, August 25-26. Next on the schedule is Zebrugge, Belgium, September 8-9, and Portimao, Portugal, September 29-30.

Outerlimits will receive satellite TV feeds from the races and plans to host video on its website following the races. A UK production company, Greenlight TV will air the races in over 70 countries worldwide. “We look forward to showcasing our boats to the European audience, who truly appreciates powerboat racing,” says Fiore, “It’s going to be a busy season!”