Randy Sweers, the general manager of FB Marine Group based in Pompano Beach, Fla., doesn’t have the big-buck backing of today’s most successful offshore powerboat racing teams competing in Super Boat International’s premiere Superboat class. The veteran offshore powerboat racer, who runs a 40-foot MTI catamaran in that category, makes no bones about that.

With new sponsors on board and new engines under his boat’s hatches, last Sunday’s big-water SBI race proved perfect as a showcase for offshore racer Randy Sweers. Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

So while sponsors are appreciated by a number of teams in the class, they are a necessity for Sweers, who throttles the 40-footer with teammate Glen Hibbard handling the driving duties. That made bringing on new backers MGI Digital Tech and Konica Minolta this season great news for Sweers and company. What’s more, the team took on a new engine builder Tom Keeter of Keeter Performance Engineering of Wichita Fall, Texas.

All of that, plus the likelihood that Sweers and Hibbard would be running solo in their class thanks to the departure of the rest of its members, during last weekend’s SBI season-opener in Cocoa Beach, Fla., made a good showing imperative for the team. The pressure was on.

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