Powerboat racer Malcolm Goodman this weekend secured his second win in the F2 British Championship at Oulton Broad, in Suffolk. The win sees him maintain his lead in the British Championship after winning the first round on home water in Lancashire over the May Day Bank Holiday.
Goodman (29) from Prescot in Merseyside, has been racing powerboats for over two decades. He began his racing career in Junior powerboats and has secured several Club and National Championships as well as setting numerous World & National Speed Records.
2009 saw him compete in the Powerboat Racing Worlds top level as a racer for team Qatar in the F1 powerboat racing championship the equivalent of Formula 1 car racing.
The second round of the British RYA Powerboat championship was held on Sunday 29th & Monday 30th at the Lowestoft & Oulton Broad Motor Boat Club in Oulton Broad. 8 of the fighter pilot catamarans made the journey to battle for the title.
Sunday was plagued by strong gusting winds. Practices were postponed, in the hope of a break in the weather that would allow the racers to take to the water to battle for the all important pole position. The long awaited break arrived late afternoon and after 3 other classes had their practice sessions the F2's finally took to the water. "Pole position is all about speed" explains Malcolm "You push yourself and your boat to the limits! Having pole position and the best line to the first turn buoy can be the difference between winning the racer or losing"
In an unusual move all 8 boats took to the water at once when the practice session opened leaving somewhat congested waters, when clean empty water was what was required. As the times were announced over the tannoy system Malcolm began to shave seconds of his lap times and that of the rivals securing the all important Pole Position with a lap time of 33secs 30 over a second quicker than the nearest competition.
Conditions improved for Mondays Bank Holiday races and the crowds lined the banks to watch would be a phenomenal days racing from all the National Championship Racers.
Lined up on the Start Jetty for the first race of the day Goodman in Boat 90 waited anxiously in pole position for the start lights to signal the start of the race. A flicker in the lights and Goodman accelerated off the start line in an early start. Now faced with two options, slow down and accept last place position in the heat or go for it and do what he can to salvage something out of the race. He set about passing as many of the other racers that he could and work his way back up the fleet into a stronger finishing position. Goodman floored it! Using the advantage of the clean water ahead of him he started bearing down on the chasing pack. By lap 8 of the 15 lap race he'd worked himself up to a fourth position with some superb driving and he was even closing the gap on the top 3 boats every lap. By lap 13 he had worked up the field of racers and secured second position he was gaining on first place with every meter of the course.
Spectators on the shore watched in anticipation as Malcolm drove like a demon to take the chequered flag in second place after making the drive of his career, and still see him in with the chance of winning the weekends race and retaining his lead in the championship.
Conditions remained consistent throughout the rest of the days racing. In the second heat coming out of the first turn mark, Goodman sat in second behind fierce rival Paul Balfour. Biding his time Goodman kept the pressure on Balfour until the opportunity to manoeuvre around him and take the lead on the 9th lap presented itself. Reclaim the lead and take the pole position for the final heat of the weekend.
As they took to the water for the final race of the weekend Goodman's engine stalled on the way to the start line, neck and neck with Balfour on points to win the weekends racing. The crowds watched as Goodman climbed out of his canopy and removed his engine cowling trying to find out the problem before the start of the race. Climbing back into his cockpit the crowd fell silent waiting to hear if the familiar roar of his engine would appear. As the engine launched into life the crowd erupted in cheers and applause. The race could get underway.
Heading into the first turn buoy Goodman was nose ahead of Balfour and with the inside line giving him right of way in the turn the crowds waited on edge to see who would come out of the turn first! Goodman led the race from start to finish not backing off an inch even when by the tenth lap he had over half a lap lead on second he kept moving his way up through the fleet until the chequered flag and weekends win was secure.
Congratulated on a fantastic weekends racing Goodman commented "There's a strong field out there in the F2 class and it's great to see the numbers competing increasing again! We all pushed ourselves to the limit and to take the win knowing you're competing against such a high standard of racers is fantastic”.