P1 AquaX, the fastest growing personal watercraft race series in the world (via UK Series, FL Series, AquaX Cup, and Great Lakes Series) took its heavily stylized format to Whiting, Indiana to launch its new Chicagoland jetski racing series. The newly renovated Whiting Lakefront Park proved an ideal location to host both AquaX’s Amateur Enduro and its Great Lakes Championships (in partnership with the Can-Am Tour, with IJSBA points accruing for racers). Enthusiasm for the pairing of the new venue with the event reached all the way to Mayor Joseph Stahura, who stated, “The renovation of Whiting Lakefront Park and the lakeshore has provided new opportunities for outdoor sports and entertainment. We look forward to being part of this series in the Great Lakes region.”
For this weekend, the weather proved as erratic as the racing itself, with brutal 5-foot seas on Saturday with even a distant waterspout gathering in the distance. Sunday provide slightly calmer as conditions dwindled to 2-to-3 foot waves. The combined series were enough to beckon 32 racers from all over North America (including Eric Lagopoulos and Jason Russo from Florida, and Jay Edworthy of Canada) as both participants and spectators, all meeting and watching from Whiting Lake Front Park. Huge upsets at the AquaX Great Lakes Championship not only put dark horse Edworthy in the winning circle both days, but a crowd-stirring fifth-to-first place charge on Saturday put Edworthy ahead, taking top place points away from Lagopoulos and Tommy Oslwang at the Great Lakes Pro/Am Enduro series opener.
Edworthy beamed, “I’ve been training for this ever since we raced in Daytona and I knew those guys were fast so I had to work hard to beat them.” Lagopoulos led Saturday’s race until lap 9, when errant wave threw the Floridian into the handle bars. “I hit a wave wrong and it took me a few moments to get going again and by that time I’d lost two places,” Lagapoulos told AquaX. Hot on his trail were Amateur Champion Chris Saxon and local racer Alan Dolecki, until Dolecki accidentally pulled his lanyard, permitting Edworthy to move up behind Saxon. In one move, both Saxon and Lagopoulos were swept up by Edworthy. Luck also escaped Saxon who within a lap was ejected from his ski, letting Olswang into third.
Sunday’s races – albeit calmer – was equally exciting, resulting in Edworthy retaining his lead over Olswang in second place, and Saxon coming in third. In fact, much of the weekend witness fellow Jet X Powersport racers – in addition to Edworthy – claiming top podium spots including second in Pro Am RA Stock, second in Ski Stock and third in GP Ski, as well as second and third in 1000 Superstock, and a complete sweep of the Rec Lites class (once again).
“Our P1 AquaX Enduro series has grown considerably over the past several years and we are excited to be expanding and bringing the series to the Great Lakes region” stated AquaX USA Director, Azam Rangoonwala. “We plan on developing and growing the series in this region and integrating it into our global event plan. A special thanks to the City of Whiting, IN for their tremendous support with this inaugural race. Our P1 AquaX Amateur Enduro series has grown quite considerably since 2013 in the USA, and we are excited to be expanding and bringing the series to the Great Lakes region. We plan on developing and growing the series in this region and integrating it into our global event plan.”
The second round of the Great Lakes Championship Series will be held in Chicago, IL on September 10-11, 2016. This race will also act as the Closed Course National Finals for IJSBA as well as the Pro Endurance Championship. All images courtesy of P1 AquaX USA’s Facebook page, captured by DG Exposure HERE.
