Class 1 Racers ‘Pumped’ For XINSURANCE Class 1 Team Return In Sheboygan
Though the Class 1 XINSURANCE team of driver Randy Kent and throttleman Brit Lilly competed in their rebuilt MTI catamaran during last weekend’s Great Lakes Grand Prix in Michigan City, Ind., they ran in the Extreme-class as no other Class 1 teams participated. The Michigan City event wasn’t on the five-event Union Internationale Motonautique Class 1 World Championship schedule, but XINSURANCE is its title sponsor, company principal Rick J. Lindsey is the team’s owner and the boat was ready to roll. So off it went until a drive issue, since repair, ended its race.
The return of the XINSURANCE team to Class 1 competition is sure to be one of the highlights of the second-year Midwest Challenge this weekend. Photos by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix
But starting Saturday at the Powerboat P1-produced Midwest Challenge in Sheboygan, Wis.,the XINSURANCE team will be back in the Class 1 fray and competing against the Monster Energy/M CON, df Young/Good Boy Vodka and Defalco teams. (The Morpheus 8 team will not compete this weekend but will return to Class 1 competition at the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix.) And they’ll do it again in Sunday’s Class 1 contest.
Piloted by Lindsey, the XINSURANCE “Heli-Cam” A-Star helicopter carrying his videographer son, Parker, is providing spectacular live aerial footage for both days of racing this weekend.
For the other Class 1 outfits, another team on the racecourse is always welcome. But their joy at the return of XINSURANCE goes deeper than just more competition.
“What Rick, Parker and the entire XINSURANCE team bring to offshore racing is matched,” said Tyler Miller, the owner/throttleman of the Monster Energy/M CON team. “And having their boat back on the water and competing against a great group of Class 1 teams will be thrilling for the fans.”
Billy Moore, the throttleman for the Defalco team, agreed.
“Rick puts a lot of effort into the sport and it’ll be great to have XINSURANCE back in the big-cat class,” he said. “I think it’s fantastic.”
No one is more pleased that Lilly, who saw his ride as a Class 1 driver disappear with sponsor Huski Chocolate’s exit from the sport after the 2023 season. The XINSURNANCE team recruited Lilly to throttle the cat after amicably parting ways with throttleman Grant Bruggemann in the 2024 offseason. Since then, Lilly has been itching to climb into the 48-footer, which back-flipped during the first Class 1 race at the 2023 Race World Offshore Key West World Championships and sustained significant structural damage.
“I am pumped,” Lilly said. “I had a blast last weekend. It was was the first time I had ever sat in the boat and first time ever throttling a raceboat. I am looking forward to getting more seat time and trying to get her on the podium.
“They did an awesome job with the repair,” he added. “The boat is as stronger than ever and lighter than it was before the crash. The new rig job by (crew chief) Gene Greber is beautiful. I can’t wait to see our success grow this season and in the seasons to come.”
Added Rich Wyatt, the owner/throttleman of the df Young team/Good Boy Vodka team, “I am happy to see the boat back together and racing again. And it’s really cool that Brit is in the boat with Randy—I’m looking forward to being back on the racecourse with them.”
The XINSURANCE helicopter will be in the air and providing spectacular live aerial footage for both days of racing this weekend.
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