Brandon Warner Wins Mark Hahn Memorial 300 Aboard Kawasaki Ultra 310

Brandon Warner’s endurance, skill, and setup mastery were on full display at the 22nd Annual IJSBA Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300. Crossing the finish line with a record-breaking 4:21:28, Warner not only defended his title from last year but also cemented the Warner/Kawasaki dynasty aboard an older Ultra 310, proving that experience and careful preparation can triumph over the newest electronics.

The weekend’s event at Lake Havasu State Park drew 27 riders from six countries, including Brazil, Uruguay, France, Costa Rica, Canada, and the United States. Only two teams completed all 30 laps, with Warner taking first, followed by the Sea-Doo duo Bryce Ford & Jon Ford just over four minutes behind, and Kawasaki teammates Emi Kanamori & Jonathan Phan rounding out the podium.

Kawasaki dominated the weekend in terms of class victories, taking multiple wins across Overall, Pro-Am, and Mfg Stock, while Yamaha proved the most consistent manufacturer, placing the largest number of teams in the top five across both Pro-Am and stock categories. Beyond the top manufacturers, the Ironman field highlighted durability and team coordination, with lap counts ranging from 15 to 30, and Brandon Warner also set the fastest pace of the day with consistently strong lap times. Meanwhile, smaller classes like 4-Stroke GP and 1100 Stock added variety, showing that success in this race was as much about strategy, pit execution, and reliability as raw speed, reinforcing why the Mark Hahn continues to be one of the premier endurance events in the PWC calendar.

Warner’s record pace was no accident. “Just finishing the Mark Hahn is huge,” he said. “I was definitely more confident this year knowing all the work that went into the ski the last couple months. I proved I could win it last year, but this year I wanted the record.” Warner credits smooth pit stops, precise fueling, and careful launching for keeping him on track. “Last year I was on record pace until we had a battery issue. This year everything went as it was supposed to — smooth pit stops, smooth launching, smooth fueling.”

Credit: Ken Gallagher

The pre-’22 Ultra 310 might lack the latest fly-by-wire electronics, but its cable throttle, Kspeed upgrades, and fresh engine provided the perfect combination of reliability and performance. Warner’s approach was aggressive yet controlled: “I was not going to let off the gas for anything. At halfway, I eased a little over big wakes, but other than that I stayed on the gas the whole time.” The final laps were especially tense, with fuel margins razor-thin, testing both mental and physical stamina.

Race director Ross Wallach emphasized the significance of Warner’s achievement: “Brandon’s 4:21:28 is pretty significant — records typically hold for many years. Competition is always tough at the Hahn, but Brandon was the favored rider. Flat conditions made for a fast race, and unusually, there was less engine and boat carnage despite everyone running wide open throttle.” Wallach also highlighted the attrition-proof performance of the top teams and the crucial role of pit crews, calling them the “unsung heroes” of endurance racing.

The Mark Hahn Memorial 300 is a grueling test of man, machine, and team execution. Even in this year’s unusually flat and calm conditions, riders had to maintain high speeds for the full 10-mile course while coordinating multiple pit stops and rider changes, proving that endurance and precision matter just as much as raw power.

For Warner, the win carries personal significance as well: “Personally, I’ve always looked at this race like my uncle Craig won it and I want to too. Now I have Ironman three years in a row and the overall two years in a row with the record — this one really showed what I was capable of.”


Quick Stats:

  • Total entries: 27 (33 registered)

  • Ironman entries: 4 men, 1 woman

  • Laps for overall winner: 30

  • Margin of victory: just over 4 minutes

  • Record set: 4:21:28


    2026 Mark Hahn Memorial 300 Official Results

    Runabout Overall

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 021 – KAW Brandon Warner 30
    2 004 – SEA Bryce Ford & Jon Ford 30
    3 600 – KAW Emi Kanamori & Jonathan Phan 27
    4 525 – YAM Mark Conroy & Jeff Bacigalupo 26
    5 023 – YAM Dilzon Melo Filho & Gabriel Gomes 26
    6 099x – KAW Juan Francisco San Martin 26
    7 155 – KAW Bobby Kerns & Coy Curtis 26
    8 999 – SEA Omar Leon & Joaquin Leon 26
    9 420 – YAM Sideburns Mike Neumann & Osmany Alvarez 25
    10 069 – SEA Louis Nguyen & Santiago Juan 24
    11 300 – KAW Jonathan Levey & Cyprien Macara 23
    12 135 – YAM Robert Ruiz & Joshua Bennett 23
    13 113 – KAW Mike Selner & James Bamburg 22
    14 052 – KAW Lee Lacy & Randy Lavato 20
    15 316 – YAM Cesar Olivares & John Kennedy 20
    16 00 – YAM Tammie Malkow-Dunham 17
    17 001 – YAM Arnold Martinez & Josh Simon & Jett Wildeboer 18
    18 037 – YAM Tony Beck 18
    19 720 – YAM Cassius Sanders & Jacob Leu 18
    20 427 – KAW Krista Reiling & Danielle Seidler 16
    21 016 – YAM Adrian Alcazar 15
    22 711 – SEA Fadi Sacre & Troy Morgan 11
    23 555 – SEA Christopher Stark & Mike Perry 10
    24 110X – KAW Mark Gomez & Ryder Bilss 8
    25 754 – SEA Carl Mead & Jeff Orr 8
    26 041 – KAW Jamie Eade & Tyler Kennedy
    27 005 – SEA Jon Ford & Bryce Ford DNS

    RA – Ironman

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 021 – KAW Brandon Warner 30
    2 026 – KAW Juan Francisco San Martin 26
    3 00 – YAM Tammie Malkow-Dunham 19
    4 037 – YAM Tony Beck 18
    5 016 – YAM Adrian Alcazar 15

    RA – 4 Stroke Stock

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 037 – YAM Tony Beck 18
    2 720 – YAM Cassius Sanders & Jacob Leu 18
    3 555 – SEA Christopher Stark & Mike Perry 10
    4 754 – SEA Carl Mead & Jeff Orr 8

    RA – Pro Am 4 Open

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 021 – KAW Brandon Warner 30
    2 004 – SEA Bryce Ford & Jon Ford 30
    3 600 – KAW Emi Kanamori & Jonathan Phan 27
    4 316 – YAM Cesar Olivares & John Kennedy 20
    5 110X – KAW Mark Gomez & Ryder Bilss 10
    6 041 – KAW Jamie Eade & Tyler Kennedy 4
    7 005 – SEA Jon Ford & Bryce Ford DNS

    RA – 4 Stroke GP

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 099x – KAW Juan Francisco San Martin
    2 999 – SEA Omar Leon & Joaquin Leon

    RA – Vet Master Open

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 525 – YAM Mark Conroy & Jeff Bacigalupo 26
    2 069 – SEA Louis Nguyen & Santiago Juan 24
    3 427 – KAW Krista Reiling & Danielle Seidler 16
    4 711 – SEA Fadi Sacre & Troy Morgan 11

    RA – Mfg Stock

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 155 – KAW Bobby Kerns & Coy Curtis 26
    2 420 – YAM Sideburns Mike Neumann & Osmany Alvarez 25
    3 300 – KAW Jonathan Levey & Cyprien Macara 23
    4 135 – YAM Robert Ruiz & Joshua Bennett 23
    5 113 – KAW Mike Selner & James Bamburg 22
    6 052 – KAW Lee Lacy & Randy Lavato 20
    7 016 – YAM Adrian Alcazar 15

    RA – 4 Stroke N/A Open

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 023 – YAM Dilzon Melo Filho & Gabriel Gomes 26
    2 00 – YAM Tammie Malkow-Dunham 19

    RA – 1100 Stock

    Place Boat Number / MFG Team Name Laps Completed
    1 001 – YAM Arnold Martinez & Josh Simon & Jett Wildeboer 18

Jessica Waters
Jessica Waters
Editor – [email protected] Currently the Managing Editor of the Dalton Daily Citizen in Northwest Georgia, Jessica Waters is a photojournalist and reporter who has covered competition stock car racing, downhill skiing, motocross, horse racing and hydroplane races for more than 30 years, and added jet ski races and freestyle competitions in 2010, covering many competitions for local and national media outlets.

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