There’s hardly a thing that can be done to slow 14-time British champion Phil Pope down. The pilot behind the insanely-fast Custom Made Jetski (CMJ) 550-horsepower Yamaha FX SVHO FXR500 (which also happens to be one of our single-most popular articles from 2014), Pope is also a P1 AquaX champion, a 4-time European and one-time World champion – not to mention a whole lot of other championships beneath his belt.
Recently, The Watercraft Journal was able to chat with Pope about his plans for 2015. He began, I will be competing in the 300 class of the P1 AquaX in the UK, and the European championship, World Finals and King’s Cup in Thailand alongside many one-off championships.”
In regards to returning to AquaX for another championship, Pope continued, “The organization is amazing at the P1. They treat every level of pilot with the highest respect, the racing is always close and the conditions are hard. This makes great racing for the racers, anyone that thinks the AquaX is easy racing, I suggest getting your ski out of the garage and head down to the next race meeting. You will love it!”
Above left: IPD Graphics unvieled Pope’s new 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO yellow-and-black livery design. Above right: Pope’s insanely-fast 550-horsepower 2015 Yamaha FZR SVHO too will be wrapped in eye-catching red-and-black IPD graphics.
“My P1 ski will be a 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO. This will be to the 300 specifications but will have me handling and pump set up,” Pope teased. “My GP race ski is a full 100-percent carbon fiber Yamaha FZR top deck with a Sea-Doo bottom, but it is not the same as a standard Sea-Doo bottom. [We] have changed so many parts of the hull, it runs a 1800cc turbocharged motor that is putting out over 550hp.”
The two skis will feature all-new custom-designed vinyl kits from IPD Graphics and feature all of Pope’s sponsors: Jet Porda, Yamaha Europe, Ripp n Roll, MyProtien, Rock Oil, RP Race Clothing, Hydro-Turf, www.aysharensink.com, CMJ and of course, IPD Graphics.
