through with first-across-the-line honours in their smaller A-Class boat in the annual BTC Mobility Round the Island Race, the more powerful crafts in classes B, C and D will on Sunday be aiming to prove it was a one-off triumph for the light weights.

While few drivers contacted this week were willing to go on record and predict a winner, the consensus was that one pick would be class D racer Sean White and co-pilot Michael Mello.

The starting line at Ferry Reach on Sunday will be a bee-hive of activity from 11.30a.m. until 4p.m. when all of the boats should have crossed the finish line at the same venue.

The day's programme will see a change with three separate races, the first being a jet ski race starting at 12 noon with the inaugural junior powerboat race following at 12.10 and the featured senior race at 2p.m.

The jet ski race will see two divisions competing for the first time with the 785hp class starting at noon and the 1200 class three minutes later. These crafts and the junior powerboats will race over the same course to Hamilton Harbour and back to Ferry Reach.

One jet ski racer tipped to do well is Jonathan Cumberbatch who has flown a ski in direct from a major manufacturer, but he will get stiff competition from Chris Smith and Ernest McCallan in the 1200 class with defending champion Shannon Caisey also given a good chance to challenge.

In the junior powerboat class Justin DeSilva, who started off the season well, is one of the favourites, but competition has grown intense lately in the class and anybody could emerge to give him a severe test.

Meanwhile, in the major race, close to 30 boats are expected to turn out in the four classes.

If defending champions Lopes and Viera are to repeat they will have to bank on choppy seas which would assist them by making it more difficult for the faster boats in Class D to make significant gains along the second half of the course on the south shore.

Lopes and Viera raced over the finish line in one hour, three minutes and 36 seconds.

While racers remained uncommitted about picking a winner, commodore Craig Burt, who will be competing in Class B, reckoned that it will take a lot to brush off the challenge by the team of Sean White and Michael Mello.

"Their Class D boat has been sharp this season, head and hills above others when it comes to sheer speed and I expect them to be back first. If they can get the full potential out of their modified engine and the conditions are right for them then nobody will be able to match them,'' said Burt.

It's estimated that White's craft has the ability to reach high speeds as a result of his new engine which can produced anywhere from between 285-300 horse power.

Last year they were gaining on the leaders only to have their surge impeded just off Pompano Beach Club because of engine failure. They then had to be towed back to Ferry Beach.

A newcomer who could offer a challenge is Seon Smith who with crew Damon Simons has shown great potential in Class D racing this season.

If weather proves to be more accommodating to the smaller crafts then Lopes and Viera have to be favourites in Class A with Aaron Sims.

The situation in Class B looks as if it will be tight with Craig Selley coming out with a craft and engine that is fast in calm water but untested in rougher waters.

The veteran returns after an absence of 17 years and has shown the way in his class during the racing season.

Competition should be keener in Class C where Jason Pimental and Michael Araujo are expected to battle it out, the latter anxious to offer a challenge with a new engine package.

Commodore Burt is kindly asking all pleasure boats to stay well clear of the racing course.