IJSBA has received the following press release from the promoters of the US National Tour.
IJSBA notes that the technical infraction reported in this press release is under appeal.
The first stop finished up with a bang on Sunday with close finishes and plenty of shakeups to the standings. The City of Lake Charles, LA was a spectacular place to kick off the season and we felt plenty of love from the locals who lived up to the ideals of southern hospitality.
The racing in the Pro-AM Runabout stock class was fast and clean on Sunday with Eric Francis bouncing back from a 4th place finish on Saturday to go 1, 2 to take home top honors on his Dave's Auto Body, Hydro-Turf, Monster Energy Kawasaki. Mike Bellamy was all smiles riding to his first ever 2nd place finish and Eric Lagopoulos held on for the third and final podium spot with his Hydro-Turf Riva Sea Doo.
In the Ski GP class Chris MacClugage flat out dominated aboard his Hydro-Turf Macc Racing Monster Energy boat leading every lap en route to the top step. David Redinger looked solid aboard his Kommander Industries Fly Racing Blowsion Kawasaki earning a second place finish. Kody Copenhaver was a first time podium finisher in the third spot aboard his Kommander Industries Oakley ride.
James Bushell ran very strong in the Pro-AM Runabout Open class taking all three motos on his OptimaRacing.com BRP Sea Doo, but during tech inspection the IJSBA Official on site found a technical infraction on the English rider's boat which gave the victory to the Dean's Team Factory Yamaha pilot Abdullha Alfadhel from Kuwait. Erminio Iantosca went 3-4-3 to put his Hydro-Turf, Judge Motorsports, Riva Racing Sea Doo on the second step of the box. Brian Baldwin rebounded from the bad crash he had at the final stop of 2012 season in Charleston, WV to claim the final podium spot on his Judge Motorsports Fly Racing Sea Doo.
Things got interesting on Sunday in the Pro Freestyle exhibition with all the riders stepping up their games big time. Jeremy Parr led things off on his Hydro-Turf XScream Yamaha and put up a big number but Jason "The Destroyer" Stoyer went ballistic during his two minute run which included a 9 backflip chain to take over the lead on his Hydro-Turf XScream Blue Fox machine. That only left the brand new pro Daniel Martin with a chance to win his first ever pro event, however he came up 2 tenths of a point short on his Hydro-Turf XScream Optima Racing boat giving the win to Stoyer.
Big thanks to Ronny Mac for providing the great pictures
