Mark Cromie Holden wins Rollos Marine Yamaha Bridge to Bridge Powerboat Sprint

At the 25th running of the Rollos Marine Yamaha Bridge to Bridge Classic at the weekend, Whangarei businessman and four time world champion powerboat pilot Mark Cromie blew away all previous records in a timed sprint up the mighty Waikato River.

Aside from the action packed water skiing race from Cambridge to Taupiri, powerboats of all styles and performance took to the river for their chance to take honours in the Bridge to Bridge Powerboat Sprints.

World champion Cromie, along with up and coming Holden V8 touring car driver Caine Lobb as his co-pilot, took first place with a personal best time of 13 minutes, 44 seconds as well as setting the fastest speed ever for the Mark Cromie Holden powerboat at 202 kilometres per hour exceeding the previous best of 190.

The sprints were taken in two legs, starting at Central Hamilton running down the river to Ngaruawahia and later followed by a run back up to the start with the two times added together for the final result.

Mark Cromie along with co-pilot Lobb set the best time and fastest speed ironically on the return trip against the river flow.

Somewhat in a class of his own at the popular annual event, with the next contender Paul Rutherford setting a time of 16 minutes 19 seconds for second place, Mark Cromie has laid down the gauntlet in the form of $1500 prize money for the person who can better his record at the event next year.

The prize will jackpot to $3000 if not picked up in 2009 and will again double if not picked up in 2010.

Cromie has deemed himself ineligible to pick up the winnings himself and the offer is only valid over the next three years.

Mark Cromie and Caine Lobb established a strong motorsport relationship earlier this year when they joined forces to contend the ENZED V8 Ute Championship.

Eighteen year old Caine Lobb, also from Whangarei, has risen through the ranks from karting through to Formula Fords where he finished as runner up in the 2008 national championship behind team mate John Whelan.

Mark Cromie, who had been watching Lobb's career intently for some time, approached him to drive the Mark Cromie Holden Racing Commodore NZV8RU in the 2008 season where he finished in fourth place by just one point in a difficult first season plagued with a string of DNFs.

Lobb had been on the podium in every race that he had completed other than the very last one of the season proving to be a major contender.

The Mark Cromie Holden Racing Team are very much looking forward to starting a fresh new season and going for the championship title.

This seven round season of the ENZED V8 Ute Championship begins at Pukekohe Park Raceway on the weekend of 21-23rd November and ends at the new Hampton Downs circuit in May 2009.