|
Watergate Bay Zapcat Grand Prix - Rounds
11 & 12
31 Zapcat Teams headed to the ever popular resort of Watergate
Bay, Newquay for the penultimate Grand Prix of the Zapcat
National Championship. With the top of the Championship table
so close everything was to play for!
Pegasus Vortex Racing’s Mick Pritchard and Baz Minns went into
the weekend with a 120 point lead over closest rivals Team
Potential and 165 point lead on team mates Vortex Racing Craig
Davis and Rob Martin in Zapcat 69.
With swells of 5ft plus and onshore winds the racers were in
for some interesting conditions, they lined up for the days
racing. Up until now racing this season has been on
predominately flat water so conditions were sure to bring some
remarkable action.
After a slow start to the days racing as the competitors got
used to the conditions Pegasus Vortex Racing started the ball
rolling for the day with a 1st in their opening heat with
Craig and Rob not far behind them in second.
The team mates continued strong throughout the day with Mick
and Baz knowing that their championship contention relied on
them doing well this weekend and Craig and Rob fully aware any
mistake could result in them missing out on a Championship
podium.
Disaster struck for Dave Padget and Tony Cooper of Potential
in heat 12 when heading into the shore they hit a wave wrong
and flipped, resulting in Tony heading off to Hospital for
treatment to his back, and losing vital points in the
championship.
Both Pegasus Vortex and Vortex Racing headed into the days
final in strong positions, but a collision with Team Suffolk
saw Rob and Craig swimming and heading home for an early bath.
Pegasus Vortex continued with their good form fighting a
fantastic race to take the Gold Medal for the day with Go
Commando and Strong Language taking silver and Bronze
respectively.
Disappointed with Saturdays’ result Craig and Rob dug deep on
Sunday to take three 1st positions in their heats taking them
into pole going into the final, Pegasus Vortex also having a
consistent day to secure their place alongside them.
Pole position in the race swapped a number of times and on the
last lap it was Mick and Baz in first place with Rob and Craig
battling it out with Rana Park for second in a tight race. As
they rounded the last turn mark Rana Park had the edge but
Craig found enough extra speed surfing the breaking waves to
advance their position and snatch the silver medal in a near
photo finish.
Their two gold medals for the weekend see Pegasus Vortex Racing
clinching the Zapcat Championship title for 2007 with a 225
point lead over now second place Vortex Racing, with only
200 points in the last 2 rounds up for grabs Mick and Baz
will now turn their attention to the King of the Surf title,
the first time in three years that the Championship winner
has been decided before the last race of the last event of
the season.
BACK
|
