StarMetro - Kane captures F3000 title

The fourth and final round of the F3000 Powerboat Series ended prematurely at Kepong Metropolitan Lake recently.

It did not go the full distance of 21 laps after Haniff Borhan flipped off the course when he tried to negotiate a tight turn in the 17th lap. Following the incident, the safety boat came out to restore order before the contest was called off with four laps remaining.

Team Fernandez Racing’s Kane Michael Fernandez emerged as the winner.

The 24-year-old Jane, who has been racing for nine years, made his international debut in the F1 Nations Cup in 2011.

“It is great to race in Kepong Lake because it has good infrastructure. The setting is wide and deep. The Putrajaya Lake with narrow turns on the straight course is also one of my favourites,’ said Kane.

He considered Team Explorer from Malacca as his main rival but his challenger suffered pre-race engine problems.

It was a dramatic day with Team Explorer having to drop out of contention before the start of the recent race. In addition, New Zealander John Keane’s machine also developed engine trouble and ended his campaign mid-way through the race. Team Atlantic’s Tan Chew Peng and Tony Chew from Johor Baru finished second and third respectively. Kane’s younger brother Warren, 16, came in sixth.

Plucky Melissa Karina Yahya, who has a jet-skiing background, was the sole woman competitor in action. The 27-year-old from Terengganu completed her recent stint in respectable fifth position. The recent outing was her third appearance in powerboat.

“I started powerboating six months ago. Although the powerboat is not my main focus, I will try to compete in as many races as possible. I am concentrating on jet-ski races,” said Melissa, who runs her own business in Kuala Terengganu.

The recent event organised by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Powerboat Sports Club drew 18 teams. Besides local teams from Johor, Malacca and Terengganu, foreign entries from New Zealand and the United Kingdom also took part.