Racing

Saris And Lang Launching New Class 6 Team At OPA Worlds

ByMatt Trulio October 12, 2020October 18, 2020

The final event of the three-contest 2020 Offshore Powerboat Association season, the OPA World Championships will return to Morehead City, N.C.—the site of last month’s Crystal Coast Grand Prix—October 22-25 with at least one new team on the racecourse. Veteran throttleman Johnny Saris of New York and Connecticut-based rookie driver/owner Mike Lang are teaming up for a Class 6 debut in a 26-foot Sutphen V-bottom that formerly ran as Nopper Marine.

Having tested their 26-foot Sutphen raceboat yesterday, the new Class 6 team of Johnny Saris and Mike Lang are back at it again today.

Saris and Lang tested 26-footer, which is powered by a 600-hp electronically fuel-injected Saris Racing Engines powerplant, for the first time yesterday. Today they will continue with propeller testing with wheels from BBLADES Professional Propellers, as well continue to fine-tune fuel-mapping.

“Mike and Johnny became close friends after Johnny built an 800-hp EFI engine for Mike’s 22-foot Donzi,” said Jason Saris of Performance Marine—the home of Saris Racing Engines in Bolton Landing, N.Y.—who competed in and won four OPA races with his son, Johnny, last year. “Mike has always wanted to go racing and saw the opportunity to get in the game with Johnny’s years of experience.

Lang (left) and Saris became friends while Saris was building an engine for Lang’s 22-foot Donzi.

Lang and Saris have dubbed the boat Team Moderation. They plan to run a full Class 5 season in 2021.

“Team Moderation got its name from Mike’s grandfather who always told him, ‘Everything in moderation,’” said the senior Saris.

Saris And Lang Launching New Class 6 Team At OPA Worlds

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