ECLIPSE-FOX COALITION AIMS TO OVERTHROW PREMIER CRU

Their respective teams might be sharing a house this weekend but Eclipse driver, Rose Lores, and Team Fox pilot, Martin Colligan, will leave the pre-race pleasantries at the breakfast table on Saturday morning.

Having kindly offered to keep a watchful eye over their race rival at the Pwllheli Grand Prix of the Sea, Team Fox, like Lores, has its target locked on displacing Premier Cru at the top of the P1 SuperStock 150 Class standings.

After claiming a sensational debut race win during Monday's pulsating finale in Galway, Lores is the envy of her fellow 150 Class drivers, especially having proven that Premier Cru can be beaten in uncomfortable conditions.

 "The pressure is on," said Lores. "Now we've shown everyone that John and Neil aren't invincible, I guess there's extra hope among us all that it can be done again. Both Team Fox and GSS Mermaid could easily finish on top of the podium this weekend."

Judging by Colligan's confidence levels and the team's extra hours of training on the water since the P1 SuperStock Championship's first-ever visit to Ireland, the Jersey boys are justifiably favourites to upset the formbook this weekend.  Colligan said: "We've worked very hard since Galway to get things right. Friday's conditions were very similar to our first race in Penzance but it changes every lap.

"You have to do everything you can to get to the first buoy. It's vital to stay positive and keep in control. The competition in the 150 Class is so close this year and the racing is very hard to predict."

The banter has been friendly so far but Lores is refusing to do any more of the customary Team Fox house duties. She said: "I've done my share of chores already. Martin sent me a text at 6:55 this morning asking me to make him a cup-of-tea. If he thinks that's going to continue then he's sadly mistaken."

An increasing  seaway and a pessimistic weather forecast for Saturday does not make for positive reading and certainly rules out any hopes of an armchair ride for the P1 SuperStock fleet in Pwllheli.