Last weekend was the 20th annual Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300, the world’s longest continual PWC race. Dozens of participants took to the water to race across a 10-mile loop encompassing Lake Havasu, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. Among the athletes were several piloting Yamaha WaveRunners who snagged some impressive placing when the race was called shortly after the 4-hour mark.
Among those were Mike Neumann and Bill Austin brought home a victory in the Manufacturers Stock class aboard a unmodified GP1800R SVHO proving the potency of the factory-stock Yamaha. Other Yamaha wins came from Craig Kelling and Andreas Kubatzki who grabbed second in modified Runabout Vet Master Open class, and Jamal Reyes and Juan Lezcano earned second in the Runabout 1100 Stock class.
Yamaha Motor Corp. USA celebrated the turnout of top tier WaveRunner racers in a Facebook post stating the following:
In a stirring display of skill, endurance, and product reliability, Yamaha riders Mike Neumann and Bill Austin clinched victory in the prestigious Manufacturers Stock class at the 20th Anniversary Mark Hahn 300 Personal Watercraft (PWC) endurance race, held on February 24 in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
In addition to the win in the Manufacturers Stock class, Yamaha riders Jamal Reyes and Juan Lezcano finished second in the Runabout 1100 Stock class, followed by Yamaha rider Arnold Martinez, who finished third.
Yamaha pro riders Tory Snyder and Christopher Landis finished third in the modified Pro/Am Four-Stroke Open class. Yamaha riders Craig Kelling and Andreas Kubatzki finished second in the modified Runabout Vet Master Open class.
The victory in the Manufacturer’s Stock class is particularly noteworthy. This class is designed to showcase the out-of-the-box performance and reliability of PWCs, directly comparing manufacturers’ products under the most demanding conditions. Unlike modified types, where extensive tweaks and enhancements are the norms, the Manufacturers Stock class requires competitors to race on watercraft as close as possible to what consumers can purchase from dealers. This means that the victory is not just a testament to the riders’ skill and determination but also the superior design, engineering, and reliability of Yamaha WaveRunners®.
“We are thrilled with Mike and Bill’s victory at the Mark Hahn 300. It’s a testament to their hard work and the unmatched performance and reliability of our WaveRunners,” said Yamaha WaveRunner Racing manager Bryce Parker. “Winning the Manufacturers Stock class is particularly meaningful to us because it reflects the real-world capabilities of our watercraft. We believe it’s essential for our customers to know they are purchasing some of the most reliable and high-performing products on the market.”
The Mark Hahn 300, known as the longest continuous PWC race in the world, challenges teams to complete 300 miles on the waters of Lake Havasu. This grueling test of endurance, strategy, and equipment draws competitors from around the globe, making it a benchmark event in the PWC racing calendar.
