In a continuation of their three year unbeaten streak at P1 Aqua X Round 2, Yamaha Pro Enduro Waverunner racers cleaned out the competition again this year.
Yamaha racers not only took all podium spots, but they dominated the top nine positions at this past Round 2 in St. Pete Beach, Florida. The calm-water conditions were in everybody’s favor and likely made for an enjoyable event all around.
For more details, you can see the press release below or as always be sure to check out Yamaha News.
Yamaha Pro Enduro WaveRunner Racers Continue Three Year Unbeaten Streak at P1 AquaX Round 2
Yamaha WaveRunner racers took advantage of the near perfect conditions to sweep the podium, and the top nine positions at Round 2 of P1 AquaX Pro Enduro watercraft racing in St. Pete Beach, Fla.
The conditions were so good in fact that many of the top Yamaha racers switched from their Yamaha FX SVHO open-ocean watercraft to the closed-course Yamaha GP1800R.
In the first of three heats, Broward Motorsports Yamaha rider Eric Francis grabbed the holeshot and never looked back for the win. Riva Racing’s Brian Baldwin finished second, and Tyler Hill edged out Broward Motorsports’ Chris MacClugage for third place.
In Heat 2, Brian Baldwin got the holeshot and was able to fight off Francis and Yamaha factory rider Dennis Mack who finished second and third respectively.
In the third and final heat, Broward Motorsports Yamaha rider Christian Daly dominated the field on his Yamaha GP1800R with Francis and Baldwin finishing second and third on their Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunners.
Overall for the weekend, it was Francis, Baldwin, and Daly on the podium.
Round 3 of Pro Enduro racing returns Sept. 7-8, 2019 in Pensacola Beach, Fla.
Flat water, high speeds and mechanical gremlins on the loose; St. Petersburg, Florida may not have had the washing machine surf and head-high rollers that marked AquaX’s visit to Daytona for the first race of 2019, but the third stop on AquaX’s 2019 tour was no walk in the park, either.
“Going over that last bridge into the island of beautiful St. Pete Beach, I got a glimpse of the action waiting to commence as I drove into the dry pits, but I never thought this flat water condition would wear me out as much as it did,” said Pro class racer Juan Lezcano of the Miami Jet Ski Shop team. “There was not a moment to let off the gas; it must have been the fastest race I’ve ever competed in.”
Add sweltering, muggy heat to AquaX’s 30-minute motos, and you had racers that were fighting for every advantage and every bit of stamina as they battled for the checkered flag. The third stop on this year’s tour was not only a fight for the top podium step for St. Pete, but a key race in the world standing points chase, and although there were a few missing race numbers in the Pro lineup compared to Daytona, there was no shortage of world-ranked racers hitting the course in front of the iconic pink Don CeSar.
Mid-season world rankings were announced at a special ceremony and dinner Saturday night, and Brian Baldwin (2, 1, 6) pegged the top spot, claiming title as the top Pro watercross racer in the world. The battle this year is a tight one, however, and The Eagle, Eric Francis (1, 6, 2), claimed back that top spot by the end of the weekend with his overall win at St. Petersburg, according to the P1-AquaX website. “St. Pete had fast speeds and great competition, with lots of attrition,” Baldwin told The Watercraft Journal. “It was an awesome site, and I look forward to (going back) next year.”
Of note among the St. Pete finishes were a third place overall finish by rising star Christian Daly (17, 2, 1), and an impressive fourth place overall finish for Sophie Francis (5, 5, 7). “It was a tough weekend! St. Pete was anyone’s weekend to win,” Francis said. “The biggest challenge was keeping a fast pace and staying consistent in each race.”
The Visit St. Pete/Clearwater-sponsored Watercraft Clinic team was on site for their home race. Pro rider Tyler Hill was back after his Amateur 300 win last year as a Pro Rookie this year. Moto 1 saw Hill on his RIVA Racing/Factory Yamaha FX finishing third, a season best for Hill. For Moto 2, Hill was in second and suffered a mechanical.
In Moto 3, Hill ended up again in third place giving him a season’s best fifth place in a very competitive Pro Enduro class. Hill is part of the The Watercraft Clinic Racing Team, with team riders Daniell Wagner, Jason Lester, and Errol Lange. The team is proudly sponsored by Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, RIVA Racing, Jet Pilot USA, and Jettrim.
On the amateur side of the AquaX scorecard, Christopher Landis (1, 1, 2) fought his way up from the back of the pack in all three motos, and walked away with the weekend win in the Amateur 300 division, while Ben Mantel rolled up a 1, 2, 3 finish for the top overall spot in the AM 200 division.
“I am super pumped to get my RIVA Racing FX on top of the podium for the first time in my p1 Aqua x career. I am so glad my dad was there on Father’s Day and I could bring home the win for him,” Landis said. “I’m only a few points out of 1st place for the season and I’m excited to get back after it in the last round in Pensacola.”
St. Petersburg Beach Results Pro Enduro: 1. Eric Francis, 2. Brian Baldwin, 3. Christian Daly; AM 200: 1. Christopher Landis, 2. Greg Radulski, 3. Dean Harrison
Riding out in the ocean can be a thrilling experience. Reading the waves and choosing to either boost off of them or wait for the next set of waves to come in provides endless fun. The ocean however can be unpredictable and you could find yourself being quickly swept out to sea. While life guards have been able to save countless lives, the unsung heroes in the ocean are the operators of the BRP Sea-Doo Power Pro.
Sea-Doo is one of the leading watercraft manufactures for the general public but their parent company BRP provides commercial and government equipment to aid and assist the general public. One of these pieces of equipment is a Sea-Doo watercraft, which is fully loaded with all of the latest technology to help the operators in any situation rescue an individual.
Jake is an Australian RWC operator who uses a Sea-Doo Rescue watercraft to save lives. He has a passion for the water and helping his community, making him the perfect operator of a Sea-Doo Surf Vessel. He has been a surf life save the last fourteen years. Being only 27 years old, he will continue to help Australia’s waters and the people who use it for many years to come. Riding in difficult situations can be challenging but with added stability, a front bumper for shock resistance, upgraded cooling among many more features, Jake has the knowledge and tools for the job. Check out this short video of Jake.
Surf Life Saving Australia and BRP are proud to be working together for 10 years now. The technology in the Sea-Doo watercraft has become better and better each year making rescues in the ocean more efficient.
Watercraft Superstore has another killer apparel clearance happening right now. The shop is offering 2mm Jet Pilot Apex Race Jackets for as low as $45.95. These pullover jackets are made of flex-lite neoprene and they’ll cut the windchill and UV rays while you speed along on your PWC. If you prefer a screen-printed logo, drop an extra $5 and pick up that style of Jet Pilot’s Apex Race Jacket. The 1mm flashy slick looking Jet Pilot F38 Flight Jacket is available for $60. It has a zippered side entry, for easy access. The long sleeved 2014 Jet Pilot Mr. Corpo is priced to sell at $21.00!
If you’re in the market for a shorty, the 2mm neoprene Jet Pilot Cause is marked down to $46. It’s a nice-looking spring suit available in a bright blue and black or all black. Two of Watercraft Superstore’s brand of wetsuits are on sale. A 3mm shorty is going for $49.95, perfect for a nice day with cooler water temps. This suit has super stretch neoprene in the legs and arms for unrestricted movement. If you favor a Farmer John, Watercraft Superstore has you covered with their $75 suit built for water temps below 75F. Start the day wearing the jacket and as things heat up, take it off like one does when layering.
Also available from the Watercraft Superstore brand, are their $9.95 Lycra rashguards for men and women. If you just want to block some sun, bite back against the wind, or make it easier to get in and out of a wetsuit, these are for you.
Maybe a new pair of boots is in order. The 3mm Jet Pilot Chamber Boot is a low $25.95. The neoprene boot has Fire Furr lining, taped and stitched seams, ankle straps, and a nylon cinch cable lace. Many different t-shirts are on offer. They are priced from $9.00-$17.50. Six styles of Jet Pilot PFDs are priced to walk out the door, ranging from $27.00 to $45.95.
Many other odds and ends are available. Check out the site to see what else is on offer. Also, many of the sale products have limited quantities, sizes, and colors to choose from. See the goods online at Watercraft Superstore.
We all enjoy getting out on the water and riding. It can be sad when loading back up on to the trailer at the end of the day but there will always be another day to ride. As with any motorized ride, keeping up on maintenance is vital to the overall reliability and life of your watercraft. One of the great things about the newer four stroke WaveRunners is that the maintenance is simple and easy for owners to do. A quick oil change using new oil and a filter makes your engine happy and healthy. Yamaha does outline if a particular service needs to be done by a Yamaha technician.
Yamaha wants their customers to be satisfied with their purchase of a WaveRunner long after leaving the dealer floor, so they are now offering Maintenance Guides online. Whether you have a EX, VX, FX or a Performance Race Series WaveRunner, you now have all the available information to keep you on the water having fun. One of the great things Yamaha has done is they have printable documents that tell you when you need to complete a particular maintenance. By simply printing out your specific chart, you can put it up on your garage wall and never miss a beat.
Spring and Summer is the optimal riding time so make sure that when the sun is out you can be out enjoying it. If you need maintenance done by a professional, call and make an appointment with you nearest Yamaha Service Technician! They will get you taken care of.
Brandon Jordan completely strays from his usual fishing videos in this latest episode of Jiggin’ with Jordan. This particular video showcases the unveiling of his new Jet Ski wrap. He has always dreamed of having everything tactical or decked out in camouflage. He’s on his way to making his dreams come true with his brand-new Yamaha WaveRunner dressed in black and white camo.
The feature starts out pretty silly with Jordan coming out of the water saying he lost his voice because he has been screaming like a girl. He’s stoked on his new ski and he’s in Florida with a massive crew from FLSkiRiders who are there for a ride and the unveiling of his new ski.
The wrap reveal is extra special because Yamaha provided Jordan with a brand new 2019 SVHO FX Cruiser after his 2018 Yamaha GP 1800 “Blue Bae” was stolen in Miami six months later.
The good folks at Yamaha reached out to Jordan and provided the YouTube star with a new WaveRunner.
With help from Randy of FLSkiRiders, Jordan was able to get hooked up with PRYM1Camo to get his pattern worked out and the guys at Local Wraps did a killer job wrapping the boat. They even removed all of the factory decals and replaced them with replicas, only done in the camo pattern. The ski looks damned good!
Also, in this clip are a record-breaking number of skis in the water with FLSkiRiders. 508 jet skis are motoring along as the rider’s island hop. It’s a sight to behold and actually looks super fun.
Jordan’s nicely wrapped Yamaha SVHO FX Cruiser definitely stands out om its nice subtle black and white camo. It’s not too flashy, just enough to catch your eye.
Enjoy the madness of more than 500 skis on the water. There’s some cool footage shot from a plane. It gives good perspective of what all of the skis in the water look like from above and get stoked on the goodwill provided to Jordan by Yamaha.
On May 22nd, the second round of the Spanish EXR Cup was held and Carlos Vela was able to be the first line to cross the finish line. Vela had an impressive start given the conditions. Personal watercraft racers know that racing in strong winds adds an additional factors that can prove to be challenging. The wind was so bad for the race that the Coast Guard issued a ban which only allowed for one round of racing.
With the wind and suspense of the race, Carlos Vela was able to do his thing right out of the gate. He led throughout the entire race which granted him the top of the podium. Coming in second and third place was Santiago Elizalde and Carlos Villar respectively. Villar looked as if he had finished second but was later penalized since he had jumped a buoy.
In fourth and fifth place was Anton Rico and Miguel Lamas. Both of these riders are still getting comfortable riding their Yamaha EXR’s. The rest of the racers were unable to finish with the aggressive weather conditions. The Yamaha EXR’s are a smaller watercraft making strong winds that much more difficult to ride in. On September 14th and 15th the Spanish EX/EXR Cup will be going to Cádiz (Andalucía). You wont want to miss it!
The Watercraft Journal: You’ve enjoyed an action-packed riding career for sure. Tell us a little about it; when you first started riding stand ups, and what prompted you to try racing over other riding styles?
Mark McQueen: It was around 1990. I was tired of playing golf and wanted to do something physical. My best friend, Tom Arthur, had a JS550 and a KX250. He recommended the jet ski and he helped me pick one out the next day. It was difficult to stand at first because I was leaning over like I was water skiing. After a few sessions with Tom, I was hooked. I really enjoyed freestyle and wave jumping, but someone insisted I try and race. I was 2 years into skiing and raced on the River in Beaumont. I still remember the feeling of being on the line for my first race. I was addicted.
WCJ: Once you were hooked what would you consider your greatest accomplishments in racing stand ups?
MM: Great friends. Won some local overall titles in Expert and Ski GP, but The World Finals is the real test. I only raced there twice. Took 7th in Novice Vet Ski, 2nd overall in Expert Vet Ski, 10th overall in Expert Ski. (93-94 I think) I was not as fast as Texans Rusty Wilson or Chris Hagest.
WCJ: Let’s move on to some favorites! What is your favorite part about riding stand ups and what is you favorite ski?
MM: Adrenaline rush of taking turns at high speeds, low to the water. Great physical conditioning. The technology gets better every year and my Kommander GP1- 1500 is my current favorite. Although, my SXR with the 1105cc Mel Miller Seadoo motor won a lot of races.
WCJ: What do you currently ride, and what are your future riding goals?
Kommander GP1-1500. At 59 and chasing 30 the goal is to continue to chase my younger friends around the buoys and get faster 2-3 times/week.
WCJ: With wins and experience under your belt, how do you train/practice?
MM: Ride buoys, mountain bike. All about ” time on boat.”
WCJ: Is there anything you would like to see done differently/add to in the ski industry/racing world?
MM: Racers need to be easier to identify during a race for fans and announcers. Something must be done that allows the opportunity for more passing. Introduce a friend to riding jet skis. Only one rule book.
WCJ: With your experience, we’d love to hear how is today’s racing scene different from years ago?
MM: Years ago the manufacturers were competing for share so national and regional teams were sponsored by the jet ski makers. Qualification for the World Finals meant going to 3 qualifiers with 30+ people trying to qualify for 1-3 spots per class per region. Today seems more family oriented which is a great thing.
WCJ: So we’ve got to know – who is your greatest role model?
MM: In life, my family shaped me. In the sports world- Roger Staubach, Tom Brady, Jack Nicklaus. I tried to ride like Victor Sheldon ( liked the leg drag).
WCJ: Outside of skis, what other things do you like to do?
MM: I love to fish, hunt, be outside. My son and I played football at Texas A&M. QB, DB. My father is in the Texas Sports hall of fame as a football coach. So we have some good football conversations at Holidays.
WCJ: Mark, thank you for sharing your story with us! In closing, is there anything else you’d like to share, and what advice do you have for fellow racers and people interested in learning how to ride stand ups?
MM: Just to thank all my friends that I ride skis with every week. Travis Thompson and I have been pushing each other for many years. Great journey. Racers – Set goals, plan needed steps to reach the goals, be relentless in your pursuit of your goals. Have some fun every day. If you have not ridden a ski and want to – great family sport and excellent for keeping you in good physical condition.
The longstanding rivalry between Victory Team’s Kevin Reiterer and Quintan Bossche continued in classic fashion with Reiterer securing the win at the last corner of the UIM-ABP Aquabike Grand Prix of Italy. Reiterer took the win during the third and deciding Moto in Ski GP1. The heavy race took place on Sunday June2cd in Italy and it was one for the books!
Reiterer and Bossche ended the day with a winner take all during Moto 3. They were tied for points with one win a piece. Moto 3 was the deciding factor. Reiterer stayed on Boscche from the start and came close to being out of contention when he made a mistake that left him 4 seconds behind Bossche. However, he redeemed himself by the end of lap 9 as he rounded the inside while Bossche got tangled up and ended in second. Reiterer took the checkered flag, the win, and the GP title.
Racer Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq grabbed his first title of the year with a 72 second victory in Runabout GP1. He absolutely dominated in Runabout, capturing his second win of the weekend. The wins put him back into the title race and he’s currently ranked 7th in the championship standings.
Sweden’s, Emma-Nellie Orendahl, continues her dominance as she leads the pack after an epic start of the year. She nailed another perfect score during the competition in Italy, putting more points between herself and those trailing behind her number one spot in in the championship standings. Once again, she stood out from the pack in Ski Ladies. She remains unbeaten in all competition on the UIM-ABP tour this season.
Check this UIM-ABP page for the complete list of results for the Aquabike Grand Prix of Italy.
We all know the feeling of wanting to fix or upgrade you personal watercraft. Whether you are trying to beat out your neighbor on the lake or sound the best, performance parts will cost you money. Often times when ordering parts the total can start to get quite expensive, well do not worry. There is now a solution for any order, Broward Motorsports has partnered with Affirm so that you can now go shopping online at Broward Motorsports and finance your order. Depending on your order total, your monthly payment could be as low as $18 a month!
With summer coming right around the corner, why not give the parts your personal watercraft deserves and be able to enjoy your time out on the water. From superchargers, intake grates, exhaust, ECU reflash, sponsons and much more, Broward Motorsports is your one stop shop for all of your needs.
On top of financing your purchase, by using code BMS10, you will be eligible for 10% off your entire order. And if your order is over $125, you will receive free shipping if you live in the Continental US. Broward Motorsports is a terrific company that has knowledgeable staff and excellent customer service. If you have any questions about upgrading your personal watercraft, give them a call or send an email. They will be happy to help. Just like Broward Motorsports said, “Fast is Now Affordable”
