P1 AquaX racing at Daytona Beach. Photo credit David Lando.
There can be little argument that the first race of the P1 AquaX race season is a much-anticipated event each year. Any one-upmanship between promotors, tours or sanctioning bodies aside, it is an accepted fact in the PWC race world that some of the best racers from around the country, and beyond, nose up to the start line for round one of AquaX. It is an even more widely-acknowleged fact that Daytona is, in turns, one of the most challenging, demanding, fun, wild, adrenaline-boosting race venues on the schedule.
And this year, the opening race of the season, only one day away now, has upped the ante with the announcement earlier this month of the Celebrity Challenge, sponsored by Monster Energy and Yamaha.
And, continuing the recent string of news releases, P1 AquaX announced today that not only will Yamaha Motor Corporation continue their partnership with AquaX this year, but Short Block Technologies (SBT) and Hydro-Turf have signed sponsorship agreements with the race series.
Other tour supporters onboard for the 2024 season include FLY Racing, Jetpilot, Exotic Signs, RIVA Racing, Icom America, Monster Energy and MYCO Trailers, not to mention the latest P1 AquaX sponsor, Abyss Battery – a leader in next-generation lithium marine batteries.
Staged in front of the Daytona Beach Hard Rock Hotel, the enduro race format will feature 35 amateur and 30 pro racers from the United States, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Puerto Rico, and Columbia, all competing for a spot on the podium. All the racing action will take place on Saturday, April 20, and on Sunday, April 21, from 10 am – 4 pm and is free to the general public.
Monster Energy will be onsite offering free samplings and Yamaha will also have their demo truck on display.
Jason Williams riding a Yamaha FX SVHO Photo-David-Lando.
You can read the full press release below:
Ahead of its season-opening event this weekend (April 20-21), international personal watercraft promoter P1 AquaX has unveiled sponsorship and partnership agreements for its 2024 National Championship. Featuring both Pro and Am endurance racing, the six-event series gets underway in Daytona Beach and will then visit venues in Indiana, Central Florida and on the Gulf coast.
P1 AquaX USA and Yamaha Motor Corporation have jointly announced that they will be continuing their watercraft racing partnership for an eighth year, and AquaX has also unveiled sponsorship agreements with Short Block Technologies (SBT) and Hydro-Turf for the new season.
Founded in 1997 and now the largest personal watercraft aftermarket parts company in the world, SBT (Small Block Technologies) will continue as the title sponsors of the AquaX series – to be called the 2024 SBT P1 AquaX National Championship – with Hydro-Turf, a leader in the performance traction industry for more than 30 years, returning as an official supporting sponsor. Speaking from its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, SBT President Cj Lammers commented:
“SBT is excited to continue our title sponsorship with the premier PWC racing series – P1 AquaX. Having been involved for a number of years with Powerboat P1 and having been in the industry for over 25 years, we continue to grow into a bright future together. We can’t wait for the exciting 2024 season to start! Hydro-Turf has been a part of jet skiing for 34 years and we’re proud to be a sponsor of the hottest racing series. Hydro-Turf has always been there for our community, and will continue to develop innovative and premium products for racers, freestyle, and jet ski enthusiasts.”
The relationship with Yamaha is an outstanding example of leading manufacturers using the AquaX race series as a marketing and promotional platform. P1 USA Operations Director, Michelle Petro said:
“Strategic partnerships are at the heart of our business and being supported by a world class manufacturer like Yamaha since 2017 speaks volumes for our AquaX race series, which will receive national television coverage on Bally Sports Regional Sports Networks. Yamaha’s support includes providing our safety marshals with watercraft and they play a key role in the success of our championship.”
P1 AquaX also receives backing from FLY Racing, Jetpilot, Exotic Signs, RIVA Racing, Icom America, Monster Energy and MYCO Trailers.
Founded in 1998 and part of Western Power Sports, FLY Racing, a leading apparel brand offering a wide range of high-quality products that are known for their innovative designs, style and cutting-edge technology, returns as a supporting sponsor for the ninth season.
Jetpilot has been the leading manufacturer of wetsuits in the watercraft racing world since 1986, producing iconic custom suits for top racers, and all the AquaX marshals will be wearing their suits this season. The company has made a name for itself by creating the most technically advanced wetsuits, vests and apparel for personal watercraft racing and has used competition as the driving force in its continual search for innovative discoveries.
Exotic Signs specialize in custom graphics and produce banners, backdrops and buoy branding for all AquaX events. Based in Palm Beach County in South Florida, it has been serving the PWC Industry for nearly three decades, earning a reputation as the go-to place for outstanding graphics for both racers and recreational riders.
Based just north of Fort Lauderdale on Florida’s Atlantic coast and recognized worldwide as the premiere source for the highest quality personal watercraft performance parts and accessories, RIVA Racing has supported the P1 AquaX series for the past decade.
A partnership agreement with Icom continues, with the international, advanced communications company being the official marine radio communications of P1 AquaX for a fourth season. Icom has a long record as a trusted manufacturer of land mobile radio, amateur radio, marine and aviation radio and communications receivers that are sold in more than 80 countries. Ray Novak of Icom America said:
“As pioneers in marine and aviation communication technology, we’ve found a kindred spirit in P1 racing, where precision and safety are paramount. Our collaboration ensures that cutting-edge Icom radios remain an integral part of the P1 racing circuit, providing reliable communication and peace of mind to competitors and racers alike.”
Announced in April last year, a multi-year partnership between Powerboat P1 and Monster Energy includes personal watercraft racing, with the brand becoming the Official Energy Drink of the SBT P1 AquaX National Championship.
The latest P1 AquaX sponsor is a leader in next-generation lithium marine batteries. Abyss Battery has been revolutionizing the marine battery industry by designing and manufacturing the most advanced, innovative, high-performance marine lithium batteries. Nicholas Vasilaros, founder and CEO of the Florida-based company, and P1 will jointly be announcing details of the sponsorship later this month.
A total of almost sixty riders will be competing on the Atlantic coast this weekend in front of the Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach, with Clearwater hosting the final event of the season in early November.
