Redcliffe on the shores of Moreton Bay

Tim Ryan’s amazing Vintage Ski collection

Kuwaiti Mohammed Burbayea (Skinny Mo)

First National title competition for 5 years was always going to have an air of nervous expectation and uncertainty but all that was blown away by 2 full days of horsepower unleashed on the shores of Pelican Park at Redcliffe, just 35 minutes from Brisbane on the last weekend in April 2017.

9 classes covering the full gamut from Junior Lites Ski to 600hp GP Runabout monsters ate up the big track on Moreton Bay and decided Aussie champions across 4 rounds, 2 each day across the weekend.

Hosted by the AJSBA in conjunction with the QPWC and presented by Australian Jet Ski Parts with supporting sponsors Worx Racing, Monster Clothing & LOCO, Jet Pilot, Jetsport QLD, TWT Concrete Pumping, Brisbane Jet Skis, Shoreline Jet Skis and Swiftco Trailers.

AJSBA President Ross Moore lays down the law

John Bonkowski

Peter Hunter

Nationals expectations was elevated by welcoming several international competitors including Red Bull racer Mohammed Burbayea, a multiple World Champion from Kuwait and international officials John Bonkowski who headed up the Water Safety Team in conjunction with our own Sydney based Zane Ludlow,  world renowned commentator Dawn Dawson while the legendary Robert Sand headed the Technical inspection team.

For the first time ever in Australia electronic timing by Melbourne based MyLaps who run the VJSBA time trials was on the cards but despite many hours invested along with some success, the system was never fully reliable and scoring reverted to the manual labour of human intervention with the thankless lap scorers hard at work across 2 full days.  A huge thankyou to them on behalf of everyone I’m sure.

Joel Batt – 2017 Australian Pro Am Rec Lites Runabout Champion

Rob White

Pro Am Rec Lites Runabout Start

First up on the track was Pro Am Lites Runabout which is pretty much the Spark class with one exception and quite controversially a Yamaha EX was allowed to compete, even though technically it’s outside the rules with an engine 100cc too big, an executive decision by the AJSBA President Ross Moore allowing it to run on the basis of its comparative performance as it carries more weight, a decision later confirmed to be accurate with LQD’s Rob White, a very competitive and experienced racer taking it to the podium with a third overall. But the class was pretty much in the hands of Joel Batt on his Sunshine Coast Power Sports Sea-Doo Spark who was always at the pointy end in every race, chased hard by Emma Harris who took a very impressive second just 2 points ahead of Rob White on the Yamaha EX. AquaX NSWPWC series charger Bailey Cunningham was expected to do well but was hampered by mechanical issues so that ruled him out of the hunt. Sydney’s Dean Jeffries also had some bad luck pulling his lanyard out on several occasions sending him quickly to the back of the pack.

Mitch Wayt – 2017 Australian Pro Am Stock Runabout Champion

Mitch Casey

Pro Am Stock Runabout Start

Pro Am Stock Runabout turned into a battle of the Mitch’s, Mitch Wayt and Mitch Casey battling it out for the title and eventually decided by just 1 point after 4 gruelling motos in favour of the existing Pro Am Stock Runabout Champion Mitch Wayt on his Diptech Performance, Gold Coast Waverunners/Sydney Watercraft Centre #16 Yamaha GP1800 with Waverunner Performance Centre’s Sebastian Birch in third. Since the tragic passing of Joey Scaturchio 5 years ago there has been no National competition so it was fitting that Joey’s father Tony was on hand to present the Joey Scaturchio Memorial Trophy to Mitch at the presentation in memory of Joey and the class he raced in.

Jordan O’Keeffe – 2017 Australian Pro Am Limited Ski Champion

Michael Stevens – 2017 Australian Pro Am Lites Ski Champion

Tom Aiken

Pro Am Lites /Limited Ski was dominated by two talented riders in Tom Aiken and Jordan O’Keeffe in Lites and Limited respectively but disappointment was coming Aiken’s way with the news that he’d been docked a lap for a missed buoy in moto 2 which handed the National title to Michael Stevens who is now a 2 x Australian Pro Am Lites Champion.  Shoreline Yamaha’s O’Keeffe was never troubled in Limited and took a well deserved Australian Limited Ski title over Clyde Grant and fast charging youngster from WA Byron Lewis, the latter unfortunately losing the countback with Grant when they both tied on points. Memorable mention to Justin Windsor who somehow rode the last few laps of moto 4 with no hood and didn’t sink – incredible!

Mark Dallow – 2017 Australian Am Showroom Stock Runabout Champion

Joel Batt

Kristy Mirams

Amateur Showroom Stock Runabout handed a National title to Mark Dallow after the fastest on the track Joel Batt was docked a lap for turning back on the course on Day 1. Wollongong Jet Ski’s Kristy Mirams took an excellent 3^rd place in a field stacked with good talent and looks to be the strongest female competitor to surface in some time.

Jared Martin #37 – 2017 Australian Vintage Ski Champion

Matt Wollaston on the Monster 550SX with Tim Ryan #2 on his Butch’s 750SX

Vintage Ski with #1 Cameron Wise and #7 Simon Graham, Tim Ryan in the background

Vintage Ski was all fun battles until word leaked out that trophy’s were up for grabs then the competitive spirit was well and truly lit with Jared Martin and Tim Ryan running a closed shop across the 2 days and eventually the title decided by just  14 points and going Martin’s way on his FX1. Some stunning classic skis made up the field including Tim Ryan’s Team Butch 750, Simon Graham’s R&R 750, Matt Wollaston’s Monster Energy mildly modded 550SX and a you beaut Thunder Jet in the hands of Cameron Wise.

Shane Stuart – 2017 Australian Pro Am Stock Spec Runabout Champion

Sebastian Birch

Mitch Wayt

Pro Am Stock Spec was a Yamaha GP1800 battle with perennial charger Shane Stuart coming to grips with his new GP1800 and determined to break the stranglehold that Wayt and Casey have formed at the top of any class they race. For Stuart, with his father, mechanic, team boss Doug at his side it was one more Aussie title to bring the total to 9 National titles over a long career, this his first on the new GP1800. Mitch Wayt took second with Waverunner Performance Centre’s Sebastian Birch in third after Casey tumbled down the order with mechanical issues.

Jett Cavanagh – 2017 Australian Junior Lites Ski Champion

Austin O’Halloran

Jake Beekman

Junior Lites Ski established Sydney’s Jett Cavanagh as the best new talent to surface over the last few seasons and as expected he dominated the National competition on his WORX Superjet with cornering speed and starts no one could match – 4 wins from 4 starts. A well deserved Australian title to remember his time in the Junior ranks and now looking forward to racing against the older and experienced Lites campaigners next season. Austin O’Halloran took second on his SXR with Jake Beekman third on a Superjet in a close battle only separated by 5 points after 4 motos. A disappointed Blair Pomery not too far back on 187 points and 13 year old Dean Krouskos in fifth with age against him. He is definitely improving and with his first Nationals behind him will be taking that confidence into the new season. A great bunch of mates run in this class and has been awesome to watch them get their move on over the last year or so.

Justin Windsor – 2017 Australian GP Ski Champion

Joel Barry – 2017 Australian SXR1500 Champion

GP Ski + SXR1500 start

GP Ski and SXR1500 ran in the same class but were scored separately somewhat controversially but again a decent decision by Ross Moore and the AJSBA committee on finding a place in the Nationals for the new Kawasaki 4-stroke standup without wrecking the existing Ski structure. Unfortunately for Joel Barry who took 4 overall wins in the class aboard the Jet Ski World SXR1500 it would never count as the premier ski class and therefore no #1 plate. That plate was to be decided in the GP Ski class and that turned out to be a huge learning curve for Liquid Industries owner Justin Windsor who took ownership of one of the fastest standups in the World with a Sea-Doo Centre SDC Trak 903 delivered by Kylie Ellmers a day before competition to decide Australia’s #1. Having to come to terms with a beast of a ski that tops out just under 75mph and arm wrenching acceleration it was a visible struggle further compounded when the engine expired in moto 2. With a replacement Spark engine bolted in overnight Justin made good on his campaign to win the #1 plate and succeeded following moto 4 with Zac Humphreys taking out second by just 2 points from Kylie Ellmers in third.

“I am super excited to have the number 1 plate!”, said Justin. “It was definitely the goal going into the weekend, but wasn’t without a bunch of challenges. The first time I got to ride my race ski was on the sighting lap before the first moto and I had a few handling issues which we thankfully managed to remedy before the start! I knew I had to ride smart this weekend to get the number 1 plate. We had a late night Saturday night working on some mechanical issues but were ready to go Sunday and went out and clinched the title. My Seadoo Centre Trak is phenomenal and I can’t wait to spend some more time on it preparing for Kings cup!”

“I would like to thank those that helped me this past week it was a crazy week and a big thank you goes to Rob White, Wayne Vuurman, Brett Douglas, Bailey Cunningham, Gary and Matt from Worx racing. My beautiful wife Dani for her love and support and of course my 2 boys Chase and Ryder! Also a big shoutout to the AJSBA for putting on an awesome event and of course the safety crew were amazing.”

Paul Leven – 2017 Australian GP Runabout Champion

James Masterton

Mohammed Burbayea (Kuwait)

GP Runabout was all about the biggest, baddest, fastest skis in Australia and they didn’t disappoint. Making the 24hr journey downunder for the first time was multiple World Champion Red Bull racer Mohammed Burbayea from Kuwait who was all set for seat time on the Sea-Doo Centre #66 turbo shark RXPX, easily the fastest ski on the water against Sydney Sea-Doo’s gorgeous all carbon turbo RXPX in the hands of James Masterton, Paul Leven on the Dan’s Jet Power Racing turbo RXPX and Brendan Boyd on a very quick Supercharged RXPX. However all did not go to plan for the Kuwaiti who holeshotted to an early lead only to suffer an engine failure on the #66 after a few laps into moto 1 which opened up the racing to a battle between Sydney racers Masterton and Leven. Masterton set the stage early proving he had the goods with a moto1 win, and apparently not troubled by his two year layoff –  Leven was a close second. Burbayea reverted to Kylie Ellmers Enduro Open Spec ski for moto 2 but it was no match and Leven was never headed as he took the round win. Masterton had to settle for second, two motos down and the top two were equal on points, it was shaping up to be an exciting final day of racing with two more motos to go. Sunday’s first moto saw Leven holeshot to the lead but inexplicably Masterton pulled out in what appeared to be great pain and later revealed he got reamed by the hard carbon seat which had only traction matting and no padding to the point where he literally couldn’t ride, a disaster for the Sydney Sea-Doo owner and a gift for Leven who only had to finish in the moto 4 to win the National title. He did more than that though with a sensible second to Masterton in a smart race to claim his first Australian premier class GP Runabout Championship for the Dan’s Jet Power Racing Team. “We had a great weekend, the Dan’s Jet Power team all worked together and the ski’s didn’t miss a beat. We got a 2nd and a 1st yesterday and a 1st and a 2nd today so good close racing and I’m proud to race against such respected competitors”, said Paul. In a great display of sportsmanship the Dan’s Jet Power Racing back up open spec supercharged RXPX was loaned to Burbayea after Kylie’s Enduro ski had to be retired following the first enduro and he used it to good effect to score an overall third place just ahead of Brendan Boyd. Given the fact that a plate cannot go to an Australian non-resident Burbayea got the trophy but not the #3 plate which went to Brendan Boyd.

In his own words – Paul Leven, 2017 AJSP Australian Watercross Champion

“Besides racing the whole 2015 tour in Pro Runabout Open this was only my second attempt racing in Pro Runabout Open/GP at the Australian Titles (first was 2012 and we won Pro Runabout Open final round in 2014 but it was not designated as a Australian Titles event) and I knew all the riders in the class this year had a good shot at winning but I also knew the time and effort that Dany, George and the team at Dan’s Jet Power Racing had put into the turbo RXPX and also the yellow supercharged RXPX to ensure the Dan’s Jet Power Racing team would be competitive.”

“Once the racing started everything went well, first heat we had good speed and ended up taking second, after Mohammed broke I was leading but then went over a buoy and James got passed me as I thought it best to take the make up buoy, second heat I managed to win from start to finish, third heat I also managed to win even though my left hand grip nearly came all the way off in the first few laps and when back at the beach also noticed the left rear trim tab had broken off. Last heat was a great race in rough conditions, James, Mohammed, Brendan and myself were all pushing hard and it was great fun to be in that type of race which hopefully the crowd enjoyed, I ended up 2nd in the 4th heat which was more than enough for the first overall for the weekend and my first #1 plate in the premier Pro Runabout GP class.”

“It was also great to see Mohammed take a 2nd in heat 3 and 3rd in heat 4 on the back up Dan’s Jet Power Racing yellow Open Class RXPX, it says a lot about Dany’s passion for the sport to lend a competitor our back up ski and to then have it finish on the podium in those 2 races. I have to sincerely thank Dany & Carmen from Dan’s Jet Power Racing who, without the opportunity to race for them I would not be racing in the GP class, also huge thanks to George, Sal and all the Dan’s Jet Power Racing team, thanks to my wife Debbie and 2 boys Griffin and Fletcher who allow me to do this and my whole family who have cheered me on over all these years. Also to all the organisers, volunteers and other competitors that made it such a great event. Hopefully the Dan’s Jet Power Racing team can get to some more international races in the next year and push for some good results.”

Christian D’Agostin – 2017 Australian Enduro Open Class Champion

Enduro Open is the ultimate power vs strategy test, deciding on speed, boost and fuel consumption is a surefire way to turn your head inside out but Christian D’Agostin is becoming a master in nailing the formula. Never leading against the fast skis he stitched together top finishes in both races that others simply couldn’t match and the age old racing meme rang true once more – to finish first you first must finish. That makes it five Australian Enduro Championship titles in a row for Christian D’Agostin, an impressive tally in anyone’s books. Brett Douglas was second with Guy Greenland third. Honourable mention to Chinni Rao who was up into second in moto 2 before the red flag on his 711 Wollongong City Jet Ski Kawasaki 310.

Mitch Wayt – 2017 Australian Enduro Pro Am Stock Spec Champion

Enduro Pro Am Stock Spec was won by Mitch Wayt on his GP1800 with Mitch Casey coming in second even after Casey crashed in a massive high side in the second moto which caused concern for everyone on the beach for a while as the race was red flagged and he was brought ashore by the water safety team. Eventually he fully recovered and it was good to see him walk off from the medic tent, shaken but ok.

Paul Bazeley – 2017 Australian Enduro Showroom Stock Champion

Enduro Showroom Stock was hard fought with the Kawasaki  310 of Paul Bazeley in his element in the rough second moto to take the overall from an impressive showing by relative newcomer Kristy Mirams on another Kawasaki with Brett Whittaker in third.

And that concludes what will go down as a very memorable Australian Watercross Championship with thanks to the AJSBA, QPWC, all the sponsors and partners, race officials and helpers,  tech crew, announcers, water safety marshalls, lap scorers and everyone who helped out. Congratulations to all the new 2017 Australian Watercross Champions. Personal thanks to Ross Moore, Justin Belczowski and Sue Lamprecht for making my job easier across the 2 day event, much appreciated.

Official Results

Congratulations to all 

Joey Scaturchio Memorial Trophy
Mitch Wayt

Stay tuned for full gallery – coming soon!