Lites Ski

NSWPWC is on a roll with the weather gods with another stunning day in Sydney for round 3 of the 4 round AquaX Club Championship series held on the last Sunday in February at the regular St George Sailing Club venue in Sydney’s south.

Vintage Ski in Sydney !

Good numbers again and a big contingent from Queensland again making the trek down south showing real commitment to jetski racing in Australia. This time everyone was in for a treat with a Vintage Class on the books for the first time since, well when vintage was not vintage and everyone rode standups. The Queensland boys really stepped it up with some awesome vintage 550 standups prepped and stickered up in the best colours of the day and adding real depth to the field. Nine on the line was more than anyone could have hoped and it was a real step back in time. Great to see many old faces from back in the day and some younger faces including Tim Ryan, Zac Humphreys, Adz Gibbo, Simon Graham, Matt Wollaston, John W Youings, Liam O’Halloran, Cameron Troy, Michael McMillan and Alex Youings. Even Aussie #2 Michael Stevens who is currently ski less had his first ever ride on a vintage ski courtesy of Michael McMillan’s battleship 550 until it expired.

Enduro Start and the only time we saw the new #20 Yami of Guy Greenland

Taylor Aitken has become the voice of the NSWPWC since Justin Belczowski moved north and is doing a fine job on the Mic at Riders Meeting and Presentation as well as scoring and lots more. Seeing as she’s studying in Bathurst for most of the year its a pretty amazing effort for her to come and support the club and give up her weekend. She was straight on the road back to Bathurst as soon as presentation was over. Stellar effort from the young lass!

Missing again for round 3 were the familiar faces of endurance specialists and PTS Racing team members Cameron Martin and Christian D’Agostin who announced mid week that both their FX SVHO and FZR SVHO Yamaha’s had left for China to compete in a 5 race series as the Jettribe Australia Team.

Stock Runabout lined up for start

Enduro kicked off the day with some good numbers in all 3 classes and big drama straight off the bat with the Open R/A of Guy Greenland, who was testing a new hull for his Yamaha FZS unfortunately tested to breaking point with the hull opening up in the brutal Botany Bay conditions and sinking to the bottom, fortunately on the beach side of the bay and close to one of the course buoys. Racing continued on as plans were made for to retrieve the ski with Maritime and Peter Hunter helping out but alas at days end the red buoy that in effect was marking the spot where the ski went down was inadvertently moved to set the course again for the second enduro leg and compounded the location of the sunken watercraft. It was not until the next day that the ski was found and retrieved.

Top step for Nick Pilgrim in Enduro Showroom Stock Runabout

But racing went on and the Enduro continued with Nick Pilgrim (RXP-X) taking the honours in Enduro Showroom Stock Runabout from Nikolas Pazanin (Kawasaki STX-15F) and Stuart Fell taking third on a Honda R012X, Eman Soliman battled hard with consistent finishes netting her 4th on her Yamaha FZS.

Podium for Chinni Rao in Enduro Stock Runabout

Enduro Stock Runabout had 8 in the class and Mitch Wayt (Yamaha FZS) dominated ahead of Chinni Rao (Kawasaki 300X) and Adam Wildin (Kawasaki 310X) in third.

Enduro Open Runabout was all Paul Leven with 2 race wins edging out Mitch Wayt (FZS) with Chinni Rao on his Kawasaki 300x in third. Dan’s Performance owner Danny Moujally was unlucky to throw a clutch in the last Enduro leg which definitely took him off the podium and a likely 2nd overall.

Awesome debut in Junior and Lites Ski for Austin O’Halloran

Junior Ski had 5 on the line with an awesome debut for young Austin O’Halloran showing his talent and speed on his SXR beating out the visiting American AJ Luinstra (SXR) and Jett Cavanagh (SJ) taking third.

A good field of 9 in Lites Ski was exciting with many of the juniors bolstering the lineup taking on seasoned ski and runabout racer Guy Greenland and the wily veteran Michael McMillan going quicker than ever now he has a modern Superjet. Fast charger Tommy Aitken was absent for this round competing in a Freestyle event in Kempsey. Guy Greenland as you would expect dominated on his immaculate 2016 Superjet with Michael McMillan (SJ) taking a well deserved second and Austin O’Halloran (SXR) third.

Darry Apps in the Sydney Sea-Doo Sport Class

Just the 3 entries in the Sydney Sea-Doo Spark class which again Darryl Apps won in convincing fashion with 3 wins for 3 starts putting the target on his back for the 4th and final round. Danial Bussa was second and Jarrod Baird third.

Corey Styles on his way to a win in Showroom Stock Runabout

Showroom Stock Runabout was a battle between Corey Styles and Nick Pilgrim with Corey winning out on his new RXP300. Mick Butler took out a well deserved 3rd on his Yamaha FZS.

Mitch Wayt is a threat whenever he rides and again was the man to beat in the Stock Runabout class on his Yamaha FZR.  Canberra’s Gary Zardaic (300X) battled Mark Quitadamo (RXP-X260) to take second with Mark third. Good to see newcomer to circuit Axel La Toison having a go on his new RXP-X260 after testing his fitness earlier in the Enduro.

3 out of 3 for Paul Leven in Open Runabout and Open Enduro too – big day !

After Guy Greenland’s misfortune in the opening Enduro leg the Open Runabout class was robbed of a top battle between 3 damn good racers with Paul Leven and Brendan Boyd both campaigning very competitive skis courtesy of Dan’s Jet Power and TWT Racing/EFI Performance and Aussie Stock Runabout champ Mitch Wayt always ready to pounce but a little down on power on his stock FZR. Justin Belczowski competed in just 2 motos so was effectively out of the mix. But the man to beat was Paul Leven who continues to get faster and stronger at every round with 3 out of 3 wins for the #99 Dan’s Jet Power RXP-X.

Again the day would not be possible without the stellar effort of the many people who run and help run the NSWPWC race days including Dean Jeffries, Paul Leven, Nathan Wethered, Michael Richards, Stuart Fell, AJ Luinstra, Justin Belczowski, Michael Stevens, Simon Murray and of course Taylor Aitken for handling riders meeting, scoring and presentation.

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Final AquaX is round 4 on the 10 Apr 2016 back again at the St George Sailing Club.

Stay up to date at with the latest NSWPWC news at www.nswpwc.org.au and NSWPWC on facebook.

Results: NSWPWC AquaX Rd 3 – 28 Feb 2016

Junior Ski

Lites Ski

Spark

Showroom Stock Runabout

Stock Runabout

Open Runabout

Enduro Showroom Stock Runabout

Enduro Stock Runabout

Enduro Open Runabout

Lites Ski (L to R) : Mike McMillan – Tommy Aitken standing in for Guy Greenland – Austin O’Halloran

Junior Ski (L to R) : AJ Luinstra – Austin O’Halloran – Jett Cavanagh

Sydney Sea-Doo Spark Class (L to R ): Daniel Bussa – Darryl Apps – Jarrod Baird

Showroom Stock Runabout (L to R): Nick Pilgrim – Corey Styles – Mick Butler

Stock Runabout (L to R): Gary Zardaic – Mitch Wayt – Mark Quitadamo

Open Runabout (L to R): Brendan Boyd – Paul Leven – Mitch Wayt

Enduro Showroom Stock Runabout (L to R): Nikolas Pazanin – Nick Pilgrim – Stuart Fell

Enduro Stock Runabout (L to R): Chinni Rao – Mitch Wayt – Adam Wildin

Enduro Open Runabout (L to R): Mitch Wayt – Paul Leven – Chinni Rao