Category Archives: RacingNews(ENG)

RacingNews(ENG)

Cristophe Girello of TechOneRacing participated at the Mark Hahn Endurance Race (300miles) along with his partner with stock Kawasaki STX-15F and they managed to win the National title in the Stock Runabout Aspirated class. The company plans to enter the U.S. National Tour with Dustin Farthing and Kawasaki USA. Additionally, they plan to race in the European Tour with Keifer King on Ski Limited class who will race a new Super Jet with a big support from a Yamaha dealer from Belgium, Kristof from Kripajet.

Recently IJSBA published the 2008 rule book with a 4 month delay. On the cover, the photo of Mike Klippenstein (the Canadian Pro Ski 2007 world champion) was not included among the rest of the photos. Actually, instead of his photo IJSBA officials decided to put the picture of Dustin Motzouris. No offence, but did “Motz” ended up second? Even if IJSBA wants to make an embargo to Hydrospace this is not the way to treat a multi world champion from Canada. Not to mention that Klipper’s photo was also missing form the World Finals story of the oldest American personal water craft magazine. The sport needs everybody’s help to get better, though issues like those ones do not bring more racers to the sport and to the World Finals. Back in 2002 there were more than 2000 participants. Do you happen to know how many they were listed last year?

The EJSBA has been created as a non-profit and democratic Association. The 3 founders are: Yves Van Heers, Michel Bulteau and Thierry Schraff. The three founders together with Franky Zapata - elected Riders representative, Pascal Barriac - elected Brands representative, have been temporarily elected to carry out duties on behalf of the EJSBA. Later this year when further elections will take place to select three additional representatives from the affiliated countries, the Temporary Board will then be officially elected to either continue on or relinquish their duties. The Temporary Board of Directors functions are: Thierry Schraff: President, Yves Van Heers: General Secretary, Michel Bulteau: Treasurer. All expenses will be submitted to the Board of Directors, any payments made will require two signatures. The official and legal creation of the EJSBA came to fruition on 18th of January 2008 in the city of Brussels at the offices of Government official Notary Hervé Behaegel.

The EJSBA Board of Directors have decided to re-assess the rules that were sent out in JSN# 6. Here are the new rules. Ski Stock: The maximum capacity for two stroke engines is 1100 cc, but they must stay within the Power-Weight ratio decided in December 07: 1.52. This Power-Weight ratio is based on the HSR-Benelli S4 already admitted in the Stock class for 2006 & 2007. Note: this capacity of 1100 cc must be OEM, you can use only OEM pistons and the stroke must stay OEM. In the case of the new Ski produced by Zapata, the Power-Weight ratio must be 1.52 like any other Ski already homologated in the Ski Stock Class. Zapata must put his engine on a homologated Dyno to prove that this Ski is within the Power-Weight ratio restraints, this must happen in the presence of a member of the Board of Directors. The lowering of power or rising of weight must only be done by the manufacture. A production of 100 units is required to be homologated for the Stock Class. The same rules apply to the new HSR-Benelli S8 Pro Edition; the Power-Weight ratio must be 1.52 set by the manufacture. So far HSR aren’t prepared to change the Power-Weight ratio of the S8 Pro Edition. De facto this Ski will not be homologated in Stock Class. Ski Limited: No changes, only to the capacity of two strokes, which now raise up to 1100 cc. Note: the capacity is theoretical and cannot be reached by changing the sleeves or the stroke of the OEM engine. Hard Chrome cylinders or Nicasil cylinders must be kept to the original bore size of the OEM cylinder. The Zapata Ski will be admitted in the Limited Class with a maximum of 138 BHP as long as it reaches the required units (100) to be homologated in the Stock class. The HSR-Benelli 142 BHP version will be admitted into Limited Class, but because this Ski will not meet the Power to Weight ratio for Ski Stock Class, a production of 100 units is needed before it qualifies to race in Ski Limited. Ski GP: No changes, only that the cubic capacity rise-up to 1100 cc for two Strokes. The EJSBA Board of Directors understands that not everyone will agree with these rules. But we feel that the majority of riders will be satisfied with this outcome. See you at the 2008 European Championship.

The APBA is excited to announce that Hydro-Turf, the PWC Industry leader in performance traction products, has signed on as the Title sponsor of the 2008 APBA National Tour including the 2008 APBA Watercross Nationals in Nashville. In 2007, Hydro-Turf stepped up to the plate as the title sponsor of the APBA Watercross Nationals and this year provides an even larger commitment to the sport of personal watercraft racing by signing on as the National Tour title sponsor. The Hydro-Turf sponsorship will greatly enhance the professionalism of the APBA Watercross National Tour and is a very positive for the sport. The Hydro-Turf National Tour is a six-stop eleven-round National series for Closed Course racing and Freestyle in the United States. The APBA National Tour and APBA Watercross Nationals are the largest attended PWC events sanctioned by the APBA. The events will be filmed and air on the Water Channel which is available on the DIRECTV satellite television network that broadcasts to more than 20 million homes.

For the first time the most important Rally Raid in jet-ski never realized to this day. From 8 till 17 November 2008. During 8 days, in the course of the stages made in villages, the participants will highlight their sports and human qualities. They will discover this fabulous territory: French Guyana and its ambassador le Maroni. Every team of two team members will have to go through, about 1500km offshore and on the river. From Cayenne, they will join high Maroni, Amerindian entity and brown blacks, that Amazonian forest frames legendary. Height days of race, navigation, speed, physical stamina, adrenalin, discovery, adventure… The Waki-Jet is definitively unique. Further information: DMC EVENTS France, Jacques Metivet GSM: +33.(0)6.82.57.88.64, e-mail: dmcevents@aol.com or www.wakijet.com

Recently the Austrian based company released the following: “In 2007 we decided to give support to all registered riders in all in all national and international championships, with the idea to help also organizators and event managers. But from the beginning HSR-Benelli has been receiving pressure from different organizations and federations which have tried to stop our spirit of innovation. So at this point, our position is that there is no possibility of supporting racing now, as there is no straight structure and common understanding. For these reasons, we have taken the decision not to follow with the race support program this year, but we hope in the future we can give again full support to the sport.”