David Selley and Steven Bridges received a huge confidence boost after securing pole position during qualifying at the St Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix in St Petersburg, Florida on Saturday.

The local professional powerboat racers clocked the fastest time (10min 49sec) on the mile long offshore course in their 32ft twin-engined Doug Wright catamaran, Team Bermuda, during Super Stock Qualifying to determine positions on the starting grid for the three races taking place in the main event on Sunday.

They also produced the fastest lap (3min 35 sec) and average lap time (3min 36sec) on the way to securing top spot on the starting grid.

Driver Selley and throttle man and boat owner Bridges have already enjoyed success at this level, including a maiden podium finish (third) in the opening race of the three-race Race World Offshore Key West World Championships series in Florida last November.

Also flying the island’s banner in the Super Stock class at the event is driver Luis Martins and throttle man Nick Imprescia in their 32ft twin-engined Doug Wright catamaran, Nuff Said.

The pair will also start at the front of the end of the 16-strong racing fleet after producing the fifth-fastest time of (11min 50sec) during three lap qualifier.

They had a fastest lap of 3min 41sec and average lap time of 3min 56sec.

The St Petersburg Powerboat Grand Prix brings high-speed offshore powerboat racing and the IHRA Professional Watercraft Series to the downtown waterfront and Pier District of St Petersburg.

This action-packed weekend marks the opening race of the IHRA Offshore Series National Championship, featuring some of the fastest offshore powerboats in the world competing on Tampa Bay.

Martins and Imprescia raised eyebrows after finishing second overall at last November’s Race World Offshore Key West World Championships in Florida and will be hoping for more success in their first outing of the year on the waters of St Petersburg.