Matteo Nicolini (ITA)
Pilot
One of offshore racing’s top throttlemen, Matteo Nicolini has been a veteran of the offshore racing scene for the last 15 years, winning 60 races and scoring numerous championship successes – including the 2005 European Class 1 title. Nicolini has throttled the Qatar 95 catamaran in the Class 1 series for much of 2008, but was a last-minute replacement for regulat #10 Fantastic 1 throttleman Lino Di Biase after he fell ill in Tunisia. Despite arriving in the dry pit on Sunday morning, Nicolini quickly got up to speed with the Mercury-powered Cigarette monohull, with the team scoring its first win of 2008 in Nicolini’s debut race. He also designs and builds boats for the Nicolini Offshore company that he runs with brother Luca.
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Luca Formilli Fendi (ITA)
Pilot
Luca Formilli Fendi may be more used to turning the wheel on a race track, thanks to his experience in the Italian GT and Italian Endurance championships, but he’s not short of water-borne experience either.
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John Tomlinson (USA)
Throttles
American John Tomlinson is one of the offshore powerboat world’s most successful racers. A former protégé of renowned Italian racer Lino Di Biase, he has since gone on to win 35 US and international powerboat titles, has broken 10 water speed records, and has even graced the silver screen with a stunt-driving role in the 2006 movie Miami Vice.
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Lino Di Biase (ITA)
Technical Manager / reserve
Italian Lino di Biase has been involved in powerboat racing for well over 20 years, in both a crew and technical capacity. Since making his racing debut in 1982, he has spent much time in the Class 1 category, racing in the Italian, European and World championships.
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