Bartlett Reaffirms Commitment To Thunder On Cocoa Beach 2025
The traditional season-opener of the annual American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship Series, Thunder On Cocoa Beach on Florida’s Space Coast will move forward as planned May 15-18. Though the recent conflict between event-producer Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore and XINSURANCE head Rick J. Lindsey prompted lead primary local organizer Kerry Bartlett to consider canceling the 17th annual event, he has since confirmed that the Cocoa Beach races will move forward—and will welcome all teams—regardless of the outcome.
Offshore powerboat racing’s traditional season-opener, Thunder On Cocoa Beach will go on in 2025. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“We have been working on it every day and will continue to work on it every day,” Bartlett said. “Canceling would be stupid, and that was an off-the-cuff remark made in the heat of the moment. On top of that, just to cancel would be breaking our contract with P1, but more than that we would be letting down the racers and the fans. We have an obligation to move forward regardless of adversity.
“The last thing we want to do is let down our community,” he added.
In 2024, Thunder On Cocoa Beach was the second event of the APBA series. It followed the Race World Offshore 7 Mile Offshore Grand Prix in Marathon, Fla., which is not part of the Key West-based producer’s 2025 schedule. The Cocoa Beach event hosted the first race of the 2024 Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 World Championship. Cocoa Beach is slated to be the first race of the 2025 season for APBA Pro Class 1.
Though Powerboat P1/P1 Offshore, has not released its official schedule for 2025, Thomas Covington, the outfit’s primary stateside representative, confirmed this morning that Thunder On Cocoa Beach will be on the event roster.
Said Bartlett, “We are working to make Thunder On Cocoa Beach bigger and better than ever for the racers and the fans.”
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