Grand Prix of the Sea 5 - 7 September 2014

GOSPORT GRAND PRIX OF THE SEA 5 - 7 SEPTEMBER 2014

INSIDE NORVILL & PARSONS-YOUNG CLINCH P1 SUPERSTOCK TITLE TOP STEP OF THE PODIUM FOR POPE IN p1 AQUAX HUGE CROWDS LINE STOKES BAY RYA CEO VISITS P1 RACING PHOTO GALLERY

CHAMPIONSHIPSPECIAL EDITION FINAL WELSH CELEBRATIONS AT THE BATTLE OF STOKES BAY

Photo courtesy of Simone Welshmen James Norvill and Charlie Parsons-Young crowned 2014 P1 SuperStock UK champions at the Gosport Grand Prix of the Sea after a clean sweep of victories in the Solent

Daisy Coleman alongside him, he was clinch second place in the 2014 hoping for rough conditions to help championship, just four points ahead him defend a slender lead. Snapping of Pertemps. GD Environmental’s clean at his heels in joint second place were sweep of victories took their margin That was the headline on Sunday the Welsh duo of James Norvill and of victory to an impressive seventeen evening at the end of a memorable Charlie Parsons-Young in the GD points. weekend of powerboat racing on the Environmental Services boat and IFX There was great support for Hull Hampshire coast, but our story starts Racing crewed by the Buckinghamshire pairing Dave Taft and Gavin Feldt who on Saturday morning as the ten P1 pairing of Nick Williams and Martin finished in third place in the final race SuperStock teams completed their Robinson. after a difficult start to their season. preparations for the opening race that Both teams believed that they had Norvill and Parsons-Young now afternoon in Stokes Bay. a very real chance of pipping the wily turn their attention to achieving the Hazy, late summer sunshine. A Wilson to the title with the Welshmen, “double” as they head to St. Cloud, sweeping bay. The flat, glistening who criss-cross the Atlantic to race in Florida for the final round of the P1 waters of the Solent. The shoreline of both the P1 SuperStock series and USA SuperStock race series to defend the Isle of Wight emerging through currently top the championship their three point lead at the top of the the fret. The crowd building on the standings in the USA, looking to championship table. beach. A fleet of ten P1 Panther race achieve a remarkable double. “The race venue is one of my boats ready to battle for championship There was drama from the outset favourites in the States. It’s also my glory. A tense, exhilarating and possibly as gearbox failure left Pertemps on the lucky venue, where I won my first dramatic weekend ahead. start line. GD Environmental seized the Grand Prix of the Sea in Florida. Let’s The results of the last round of races opportunity to romp to victory ahead hope that Charlie and I can repeat that in Torquay had left the title chase wide of IFX Racing and then drove superbly later this month. open, with just seven points covering in the surprisingly calm conditions to “Typically the lake is flat, which is the top three teams. John Wilson in the win both races on Sunday. good for us. We will arrive there to do Pertemps boat had his sights set on a Despite serious engine problems lots of testing and will be well prepared second P1 crown and, with navigator in the final race, IFX Racing hung on to to achieve the double!” Yamaha Riders Dominate As Pope, Johnstone and Evans Are Crowned P1 AquaX Champions

It was a fitting end to what has been an outstanding season for the P1 AquaX UK series with over 30 racers on the Solent in front of crowds lining Stokes Bay. Above: 2014 P1 SuperStock champions James Norvill (driver) and Charlie Parsons-Young (navigator). Former World, European and National champion Phil Pope took the overall win with two victories, the championship honours and for the first time in AquaX history gave Yamaha its first 300 class victory. “I’m so happy and really enjoyed the racing. Everyone has made us feel so welcome here in Gosport and my thanks go to the P1 team for putting on a great championship” commented Pope as he left the podium. In the 250 class former 200 class winner Duncan Johnstone couldn’t contain his excitement when he was crowned champion in front of his home crowd. “I’ve waited a long time for this win, and I’m just so pleased to do it here on home waters” said a beaming Johnstone. The Yamaha FZR racer held off strong competition from Sea-Doo RXT of Rob Higgs to clinch the title by only two points in the very last race of the season. Welsh supporters were out in force to cheer on championship leader Damien Evans as he battled to secure his first AquaX title in the 200 class. Above: The P1 AquaX 300hp podium for the weekend was shared by Phil Pope (centre - first place), Tim Batte (left But disaster struck when his Yamaha - second place) and Dave Huddleston (right - third place). HO blew a hole in its crank cases in the opening race and he was forced to Below: Team IFX Racing challenged hard all season and earned a well deserved second place overall in the series. retire. Under AquaX rules a rider is not allowed to change his craft between races so there was nothing left to do except an overnight engine strip and rebuild. By morning the engine was repaired and Evans was back on the water to finish fourth overall on the weekend and secure just enough points to take the championship. “I wasn’t sure if we were going to get back out on the water, so I’ve got to thank everyone who helped get the engine rebuilt for me to take the title.” GOSPORT FINAL RESULTS STANDINGS

1. GD ENVIRONMENTAL 60 PTS 1. GD ENVIRONMENTAL 278 PTS 2. IFX RACING 43 PTS 2. IFX RACING 261 PTS 3. VISIT WALES 42 PTS 3. PERTEMPS 257 PTS 4. TYPHOO 39 PTS 4. TYPHOO 205 PTS 5. HULL SPEED AHEAD 38 PTS 5. BOURNEMOUTH 183 PTS 6. ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER 35 PTS 6. ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER 182 PTS 7. BOURNEMOUTH 34 PTS 7. LYCAMOBILE RACING 166 PTS 8. PERTEMPS 32 PTS 8. VISIT WALES 166 PTS 9. LYCAMOBILE RACING 29 PTS 9. HULL SPEED AHEAD 154 PTS 10. ALLAM MARINE 11 PTS 10. ALLAM MARINE 132 PTS

200 CLASS - TOP 5 200 CLASS - TOP 5 1. DAVE LEE 57 PTS 1. DAMIAN EVANS 251 PTS 2. MAT SHIPLEY 54 PTS 2. DAVE LEE 244 PTS 3. JOHN HEATH 45 PTS 3. MAT SHIPLEY 235 PTS 4. DAMIAN EVANS 40 PTS 4. JOHN HEATH 225 PTS 5. TOM RICE 39 PTS 5. TOM RICE 172 PTS

250 CLASS - TOP 4 250 CLASS - TOP 5 1. ROBERT HIGGS 57 PTS 1. DUNCAN JOHNSTONE 238PTS 2. DUNCAN JOHNSTONE 49 PTS 2. ROBERT HIGGS 235 PTS 3. STEVE HOCKNEY 20 PTS 3. STEVE HOCKNEY 181 PTS 4.. LEWIS ROYAL 14 PTS 4. NEIL GRANNELL 80 PTS 5. LEWIS ROYAL 54 PTS

300 CLASS - TOP 5 300 CLASS - TOP 5 1. PHIL POPE 57 PTS 1. PHIL POPE 274 PTS 2. TIM BATTE 54 PTS 2. TIM BATTE 232 PTS 3. DAVE HUDDLESTON 42 PTS 3. STEVE ROBINSON 192 PTS 4. JOSEPH HARVEY 41 PTS 4. DAVE HUDDLESTON 174 PTS 5. STEVE ROBINSON 34 PTS 5. JOSEPH HARVEY 146 PTS P1 AQUAX GOES FROM IN ‘THE NEWS’ STRENGTH TO STRENGTH Here’s how the local newspaper reported the weekend: The P1 AquaX series continues to grow in both the UK Boats roaring past at top speed and USA. Fifty-five riders have taken part in the UK this season and twenty-six of those are first time racers, wowed huge crowds at Stokes “ which clearly shows that AquaX has managed to achieve Bay. The P1 event was in what it set out to do by bridging the gap between Gosport for the first time recreational and competitive riding. and drew thousands of “I came to watch the racing in Cardiff and said to my people to watch the action. Dad that looks easy so I entered for Torquay. It wasn’t easy, but I really enjoyed it and will definitely sign up for ” all of next year’s championship” commented amateur racer Lewis Royale. But it’s not only amateur riders that have been drawn to compete in the series. Former world, European and national champions like Phil Pope and Lewis Goodchild have also made the transition from other forms of jet ski racing and in doing so have raised the competitiveness of the championship. “Racing on the sea is what attracted me to the series in the first place. The venues and the organisation have been great and everyone is so welcoming” remarked Pope after taking the 300 Championship at the final round in Gosport. With a new leader in the AquaX World Rankings to be announced soon and various new initiatives in the Local resident David Candler said the race weekend was planning for the series in 2015, the future certainly looks good for the area: bright.

It is great to have an event like “ this in Gosport – we enjoyed watching the powerboats and jet skis. ”

Michael Heppenstall was at Stokes Bay for the weekend with his two children:

The youngsters enjoyed the “ racing and all the on-land activities too. The boats were good to watch and the kids loved it. It was good to see so many people coming to Stokes Bay to show their support. ”

P1 WELCOMES RYA CEO SARAH TRESEDER TO SEASON FINALE

Royal Yachting Association chief executive, Sarah Treseder enjoyed her visit to the Grand Prix of the Sea finale by jumping into the cockpit of the championship winning boat - GD Environmental - and then meeting the SuperStock teams at the wet pits. Former SuperStock champion John Wilson and his navigator Daisy Coleman greeted Sarah at Gosport Marina as they completed their preparations for the opening race. An accomplished recreational sailor with her own cruising boat, Sarah is no stranger to Gosport having lived there as a child, taking to the water for the first time at Stokes Bay Sailing Club.

2014 P1 INTERNATIONAL RACE CALENDAR Daytona, Florida – 26/27 April Stuart, Florida – 17/18 May Bournemouth, Dorset – 31 May/1 June Jacksonville, Florida – 7/8 June Hull, Yorkshire – 21/22 June Tampa, Florida – 12/13 July Cardiff, Wales – 26/27 July Torquay, Devon – 9/10 August Cocoa Beach, Florida – 23/24 August Welcome aboard! Gosport, Hampshire – 6/7 September St Cloud, Florida – 20/21 September The Mayor and Mayoress of Gosport, Councillor Keith Gill and his wife Eira launched the Grand Prix weekend in great style by enjoying a high-speed ride on the Solent in a P1 Panther race boat.

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