It’s hard to believe that we’re already nearing the end of July and hitting the midway mark of the race season that runs, in general terms, from late spring to early fall. While this season has screamed by like a defending champion down two buoys, with the throttle pinned and their hair on fire in the final lap of moto 3 at Havasu, there is plenty of racing action left.
Case in point: there’s just over 2 weeks left before Round 3 of the 2025 Monster Energy P1 AquaX Championship series lands in Sheboygan, Wisconsin for the 3rd Annual Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge.
The event also serves as the second event in the Powerboat P1-produced Monster Energy Triple Crown Series of offshore racing and the third round of the American Power Boat Association Offshore National Championship.
Strolling back through the first two rounds of AquaX action this year, the AquaX season kicked off Big Easy style on June 27-29, where 16 racers lined up for the Pro Enduro class and Jay Edworthy, on a Sea-Doo 325 RXPX, took the top podium step (2/2/2), Christian Daly and his Yamaha GP 1800 took second (4/3/3), and Tory Snyder and another Yamaha GP 1800 secured third (3/6/6).
In the AM300 class, the podium platforms went to Michael Northrup on a Sea-Doo 325 RXPX in 1st (1/3/3), Cooper Caldwell, also on a 325 RXPX, in second (7/1/2) and Yamaha GP 1800 rider Yaniel Fiallo in 3rd (2/5/5)
Closing out the classes, Kayden Baldwin, on a Yamaha FXHO, secured a hat-trick 1st place (1/1/1), Nuschke on another Yamaha FXHO finished 2nd (4/5/4) and Noah Dalli, also aboard an FXHO, claimed 3rd (DNR/2/3)
Round 2 hit the shores of Kissimmee on July 12-13, where those first-round grudge matches played out and shuffled up a few of the standings. When the sun set on round 2, it was Daly who secured the top podium step (3/1/1), Deven Farthing secured the second spot on his Yamaha GP 1800 (2/2/3) and Edworthy stayed in the top 3 (1/11/2)
In the Am300 class, Caldwell staked claim to 3 1sts to claim the weekend overall win, Valentina Lezcano on a Sea-Doo 300 RXPX took possession of 2nd place (3/3/4) and Michael Bouchard took third (2/5/6) on a Yamaha GP 1800.
In the AM200 Class Baldwin continued with a strong season, taking the overall top place (2/3/1) followed by Baron Mernik on a Yamaha FXHO in second and Gary Holbein Jr., also on a FXHO, in third (3/1/3)
If you wade through the math, those results ended up with season standings, heading into the Sheboygan weekend, with Pro Enduro’s Christian Daly holding a three point lead over Jay Edworthy, with Deven Farthing in 3rd with 92 points, five points above Anthony Radetic in 4th.
In the AM 300 battle, Cooper Caldwell holds a rock-solid lead with 132 points – 38 ahead of second place.
In the AM 200 class, Kayden Baldwin heads into round 3 dominating, securely 53 points ahead of second place with his season points resting at 137.
Baldwin took a minute to chat with WCJ about the mental prep for heading into round three with such a solid lead.
“I believe it’ll still be a battle for the points championship, anything can happen out on that massive race course,” he said. “I would love to say it would be easy, but I know it’s not going to be. P1 is designed to be the hardest and most competitive jetski racing in the world. I’ll just be praying that I’ll make it through the weekend on top again.”
WCJ asked Baldwin about his midseason training regimen as Round 3 draws closer.
“Usually I’ll just ride the ski that I’ll be racing as much as I can to understand the different movements the ski will make in different conditions,” he responded. “I also ride my 1500 from time to time to get my stamina back in shape right before the race weekend. I don’t normally work out, but I do carry around engines and work on skis with my dad sometimes.”
And speaking of Round 3, yesterday, July 23, AquaX announced that Mercury Racing is returning as the Title Sponsor of the 3rd Annual Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge on the shores of Lake Michigan in Sheboygan.
“This is our hometown event,” said Anna Frazier, Brand Manager of Mercury Racing. “Sheboygan
offers world-class water conditions, strong community support, and it’s less than an hour from our
headquarters. We’re proud to return as title sponsor and celebrate this sport in a place that means so
much to us.”
Billed as “A Weekend of Speed, Music, and Community,” the weekend’s events kick off Friday night, August 8, with a downtown street party featuring live music by Nashville recording artist Andy Velo, food trucks and local vendors and meet-and-greet access with powerboat and jet ski race teams. Racing will take place both Saturday and Sunday, with all the action visible from the South Pier Lawn near Blue Harbor Resort.
For more information, read the full press release from Powerboat P1 below, and stay tuned to WCJ in the coming two weeks as we touch base with more AquaX racers to chat about the season so far and their goals, challenges and advantages in the second half of the season.
Mercury Racing Returns As Title Sponsor
3rd Annual “Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge” In Sheboygan
Sheboygan, WI – Powerboat P1, the international marine motorsport promoter, is thrilled to announce that Mercury Racing is returning as Title Sponsor of the 3rd Annual Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge, taking place August 8-10, 2025, on the shores of Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. This high-energy event – now a staple of Sheboygan’s summer calendar will serve as:
• Round 2 of the Monster Energy P1 Offshore Triple Crown
• Round 3 of the Monster Energy P1 AquaX Championship
• Round 3 of the APBA Offshore National Championship
The event is a festival-style celebration of powerboat and personal watercraft racing, expected to draw more than 50 race teams from across the U.S. and abroad. Previous years have welcomed competitors from Australia, Italy, Sweden, and Norway, highlighting the event’s global reach. Mercury Racing, based just down the road in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, has long been a pillar of the powerboat racing community. After title-sponsoring the inaugural Sheboygan race in 2023, the company returns this year to support an even larger and more immersive fan experience.
“This is our hometown event,” said Anna Frazier, Brand Manager of Mercury Racing. “Sheboygan offers world-class water conditions, strong community support, and it’s less than an hour from our headquarters. We’re proud to return as title sponsor and celebrate this sport in a place that means so
much to us.”
A Weekend of Speed, Music, and Community
The event kicks off Friday night, August 8, with a Downtown Street Party from 6:00–10:00 p.m. centered around City Green, featuring:
• Live music by Nashville recording artist Andy Velo
• Food trucks and local vendors
• Meet-and-greet access with powerboat and jet ski race teams on display
Racing takes center stage on Saturday and Sunday, with full days of P1 Offshore and AquaX competition, visible from the South Pier Lawn near Blue Harbor Resort—offering the best vantage points on the course.
The Pit Area at Deland Park will once again be open to the public, giving fans behind-the-scenes access to race teams as they prepare their high-performance machines for battle on Lake Michigan.
Mercury Racing Fan Zone and VIP Experience
Mercury Racing will anchor the Fan Zone at the end of South Pier Drive with a significant display activation featuring high-performance products and official Mercury Racing merchandise for sale.
Additional vendors, food trucks, and interactive experiences will fill the Fan Zone, enhancing the event atmosphere. Fans can enjoy all activities for free, but VIP Hospitality Tickets are available for purchase, offering:
• Catered lunch and full bar
• Lounge seating with shade
• Private viewing area with screens and live commentary
“Mercury Racing has been a leader in powerboat racing for over 50 years,” said Azam Rangoonwala, CEO of Powerboat P1. “We’re honored to continue our partnership with them and to present Sheboygan with a truly world-class marine motorsport festival. This event brings together multiple racing disciplines in one location, and the energy it brings to the region is undeniable.”
The Mercury Racing Midwest Challenge will be televised live nationally on the RACER TV Network and the Powerboat P1 YouTube Channel. For full event details, sponsorship information, or to purchase VIP Hospitality Tickets, please visit powerboatp1.com
About Mercury Racing: Based in Fond du Lac, Wis., Mercury Racing, a division of Mercury Marine, is a global leader in high-performance marine propulsion systems. Known for pushing the limits of innovation, Mercury Racing produces outboards, sterndrives, propellers, and accessories for the world’s most demanding boaters and racers. Mercury Marine is a division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational marine products.
About Powerboat P1: Founded in 2002, Powerboat P1 has staged more than 700 races across 19 countries on four continents, producing world-class offshore and AquaX racing events and expanding the reach of marine motorsport through global broadcast partnerships.
