WHAT: Racing of Sea-Doo, WaveRunner, Jetski and other personal watercraft, as Round 6 & 7 of the Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour (also Rounds 3 & 4 of the APBA Eastern States Cup) heads to Celina, Ohio, for the 1st Annual Celina Lake Festival Watercross Shootout personal watercraft race on July 23rd and 24th.

WHERE: The personal watercraft racing event will take place at the Waterfront near downtown Celina, Ohio as a feature attraction of the annual Celina Lake Festival that attracts 50,000 spectators.

WHEN: Racing - Saturday, July 23 - Practice from 9:00-10:00 am, races from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sunday, July 24 - Practice from 9:00-10:00 am, races from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

CHESTERFIELD TWP., MI. - Start you engines and get ready to catch the excitement of personal watercraft racing action as the 2005 Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour/APBA Eastern States Cup heads to Celina, Ohio, for the 1st Annual Celina Lake Festival Watercross Shootout personal watercraft race.

After a ten-year hiatus, Celina will host a tour stop on the Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour - the nation’s premier regional watercraft racing circuit. This year the Celina race will be both the 6th and 7th rounds of the Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour, as well as the 3rd and 4th stops on the new APBA Eastern States Cup national series. More than 150 of the East Coast’s best watercraft racers are expected to descend on Celina for the competition. The event takes place on Grand Lake on the waterfront in downtown Celina. In addition to the race there will be a huge car show, carnival rides, continuous live entertainment, more than 185 food and craft vendors, 100 Amphicars, cardboard/duct tape boat race, poker run, the Shoot for the Stars fireworks display on Friday night and around 20 other events.

Personal watercraft racing is a tough, competitive and increasingly popular sport. Often described as “moto-cross racing on the water”, these exciting events pit up to 18 racers against each other on a racetrack of tight turns and straight-aways. In some classes, racers must also negotiate obstacles and log jumps on the racecourse. A rubberband starting system is used to control the start of each race.

The racers will be competing for a portion of $50,000 in cash and prizes that will be awarded during the season, points towards the overall APBA Eastern States Cup and Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour championships and awards. The Monster Energy Midwest Watercross Tour will also be making stops in Kalamazoo, Michigan; Hillsdale, Michigan; New Baltimore, Michigan; and Rochester, New York. The APBA Eastern States Cup is three-event national series making with other stops in Panama City, Florida and Rochester, New York.

The watercraft out there racing are not much different from the ones on lakes and waterways everywhere. The only difference is that these watercraft have many several high performance parts added to increase the speed and maneuverability in the water. Some watercraft in the Open classes have over 200 horsepower under the hood and can reach speeds in excess of 70 mph on flat water. But during the races, finding flat water is tough with racers wakes stirring up the course. Because of the wide differences in styles produced by watercraft manufacturers, the watercraft are divided into three divisions; Ski and Runabout. Within each division, there are classes for Beginner, Novice, Expert and Pro-Am riders as well as both men and women. The Ski division features a single rider standing in the tray of the watercraft steering the watercraft with a highly maneuverable handlepole. Riding in the Ski division requires excellent balance and skill. Runabouts are sit-down vehicles designed for two or three persons to ride.

The racing action begins with practice from 9:00 - 10:00am on Saturday followed by more than 30 races from 10:00am. - 5:00pm. The racing is very fast and exciting and admission is free. There will also be a Freestyle event on Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 pm. Freestyle competitors perform tricks and stunts in a 2-minute time frame for a panel of judges who rate performances on a scale from 1 to 10.

Area watercraft owners are encouraged to participate. All local racers need to have to participate is a boat (of course), a life vest and helmet. Wetsuit, gloves and goggles are highly recommended. Local riders who are interested in competing in the local race should call PM Sports Marketing at (586) 598-2856 or visit us on the Internet at www.pwcfun.com .

NATIONAL SPONSORS
The Midwest Watercross Tour is proud to have Monster Energy as the Title Sponsor of the series. This year Sea-Doo Watercraft and Yamaha Motor Corporation join us as Associate sponsors of the Tour. With additional support from Supporting Sponsors Anchorsway Motorsports, Cometic Gasket, MSD Powersports, Fly, K&N Engineering, Hydro-Turf, Jetcrafts Unlimited, Oury Grip, Outerwears, RIVA Racing, Slippery Wetsuits, Skat-Trak, Wiseco Piston and Yuasa Battery, it is going to be a great year of racing in the Midwest.