The tragic death of Antonio Petrobelli
The year of redemption begins in a tragic way. In fact, during a test session on the waters of the Po in Pontelagoscuro, Petrobelli is launched at over 200 km/h with his racing car (Unlimited Light) when suddenly he hits a shoal and after having screwed up in the air, he lands upside down. In this circumstance, the safety capsule is of no use as the impact is very violent and the pilot remains trapped in the cockpit.
It is the Ferrara Fire Brigade who recovers the body and what remains of its disintegrated hull. It is likely that despite his great knowledge of the Po, what betrayed him were the unexpected shallow water conditions of the river at that point.
Antonio Petrobelli was the only pilot capable of collecting eight victories in the Raid Pavia-Venezia, a record that will probably remain unbeaten. The cruel fate struck him at the age of 60, a very respectable age for a motorboat driver, compensated however by a great lucidity and an untamed passion that pushed him to always believe in the search for new exciting goals such as winning the Raid for the ninth time and bringing the race record to over 200 km/h. The dream vanished right on that River that he loved so much.


Circuit and cross-country races
In 1994 the second beautiful edition of the Italian Racer 2000 cc Championship took place, disputed over five races: Chignolo, Boretto, Campione d'Italia, San Nazzaro and Milano-ldroscalo. All the races took place on a short circuit, in two heats per day and final sum for each of them. The number of pilots more than halved compared to the previous year: a fact that, unfortunately, speaks for itself. The final classification saw Giuseppe Casanova as the winner ahead of Marcandalli, Anselmi and Bianchi. The champion from Colorno has thus confirmed his great preparation and the competitiveness of his Clerici-Alfa Romeo hull.

From the national title of the "resurrected" Racer class we now talk about the 45th edition of the Centomiglia del Lario. Enrico Vidoli (former Formula 1 In-Shore driver 1982-1986 and Off-Shore 1987-1990) obtains his first victory in this "classic" aboard the mammoth Lucini catamaran powered by a 12-cylinder Lamborghini in the R°° class (already used in 1993 by Steve Curtis). Vidoli, recording a very respectable hourly average (186.352 km/h) manages to beat Walter Ragazzi in the sprint who competes on an Off-Shore catamaran.
The Como race is marked by numerous illustrious retirements, among which it is right to point out those of Guido Cappellini, Sandro Gianella, Tullio Abbate and where instead the debutant Guido Abbate (son of Bruno) stands out, who for the occasion is racing with a boat belonging to his uncle Tullio (a boat that has already won seven years ago with Stefano Casiraghi at the helm).

Unfortunately, a few days later, in a tragic road accident, this young and promising hope of our motorboating will find death. Among other things, she was named after her grandfather, a great constructor and champion of the fifties.