Want to hear it straight from the racers? We talked to the #JMX athletes that attended the Hidden Trails Pro Watercross National Championships to hear about their weekend at the races.
((TRACK BUZZ))
DUSTIN MOTZOURIS: Definately a tough two weeks of racing while being so sick, everyone stuck behind me and it made all the difference. Winning the National Championship on the Kommander K1 made it all worth while, if I had given up I would feel like I let us all down, but we pulled through and I am over the moon. 2015 Pro Watecross National Champion, Pro Ski GP
JORDAN CARROLL: I had a great weekend this weekend although the end result finish doesn’t show it. I came out of the gate in 3rd and stayed in the top 4 for half the race. To know I can stay up top with the best names in the sport is a great feeling and I’m looking forward to being stronger and having a better ski for finals. Couldn’t have done it without sponsors like Tim Judge, Optima Racing, IPD Graphics, Riva, Blowsion, Ryno Power, Hydroturf, Jet Pilot, 100% Goggles, and Trinity Composites. Pro Ski GP
JIMMY WILSON: Charleston, WV was a big deal for me. I mean it was kinda my comeback weekend. I had a a lot on my plate leeding up to this weekend and I was really worried about how I was going to compare against the best riders in the country. They have all been riding laps, testing setups and racing all summer long. I’ve missed 3 rounds of the tour but we wanted to come into Charleston WV and prove a point that we have some of the fastest skis and the best team supporting us! I think we did the best we could have for not racing or training all summer. Can’t thank my team enough for all of the support. Judge motorsports, JAM Racing, Hidden Trails Motorsports, Jettrim, Fly Racing, IPD Graphics, Frowerxs, Broward Motorsports, ADA Racing, Burn Industries, Hurricane Racing, Amsoil, Hot Products, Bomber Eyewear, and a huge shout out to my family. My dad gave me the best holds in the business this weekend and my beautiful mother and wife are always supportive. Plus I’ve gotta thank my good luck charm Preston. My son was at his first ever jet ski race and I won both classes I entered so we think he’s the good luck charm now. Weekend Winner, Pro Ski GP
ABDULLAH ALFADHEL: With a lot of hard work, dedication and great support team, I wrapped up the final stop of the Pro Watercross National Tour in Charleston WV with great results: 1st in Pro Open 1st in Pro Stock 2nd in Pro Super Stock. A BIG thank you goes to Dean Charrier (Dean’s Team) for building/tuning the fastest Yamahas (couldn’t and wouldn’t do it without him!). Thank you to Scott Watkins (YAMAHA), Dave Bamdas (RIVA Motorsports),Quakey sense, KSR team lader (shaikha mashael alsabah),Olympics committee and the Kuwait youth and sport authority for all of their support this season. I also want to thank the Charrier family Mom, Dad, my sis Brit, and my bro Dustin for all the help, love and support they give me in every race. Also thanks to the whole Dean’s Team crew this year who helped out and made it such an AWESOME and FUN racing season. Good memories were made this season with the crew from Pro Watercross and I am happy to have spent it in the USA (this country feels like home to me and I will always love it because of the great friends and family I have here). I am happy to be going back to my country with 3 Pro Titles! I’ll be back for the finals in Naples in September – see you there! Pro Runabout National Champion
BRIAN O’ROURKE: Team Faith has been racing watercraft for 21 years off and on and this is our first Pro Championship! It’s very gratifying to the team and our sponsors to be able to use our gifts and talents for racing to represent Christ at the highest level of Sport GP on the Pro Watercross Tour! On Kelly Smith’s Sport GP National Championship win.
DAVID REDINGER: This weekend, starts weren’t the best, I got called for a red flag in the heat and on Saturday I had a bit of a bounce and a lot of riders got in front of me. But over the course of the season I feel like I have gotten used to this new K1 hull. It’s working so well for me. I was able to charge through the pack and make my way up to third. In the heat I was able to go from dead last with a dead engine start all the way up to fifth place. Unfortunately this weekend Dustin was a little under the weather still, I was able to get by him and make my way to third place in the main. Pro Ski GP.
KYLE MCKROW: Kevin Sullivan got great start in second moto. I was hunting him down and trying to put pressure on him. We went into corner I saw he went just enough wide so I went for inside blinded by his wash from the Yamaha, next thing all I see is big red bouy in front of me. My foot twisted on the lifter wedges and course marshall Randy pulled me out — I had broken my foot. In Moto 3 I said if I get good start I’ll race if not I’ll pull off… I hole shotted so I kept momentum going and won moto three. Kevin was a great guy, he even checked up on me after everything.
TROY SNYDER: First I’d like to thank HT, Yamaha,Riva,Judge Motorsports, Snyder Built, Jet pilot, Aqua cart, and Neptune for all the support this year! Was actually the worse year I’ve had in sometime performance wise. Just with lack of participation in the runabout classes on this years Tour was tough for me to get mentally fired up to race! I’ve been at this for 20 years and seen the up’s and down’s. This year was such a transitional year without the IJSBA being involved etc…Without the support of Yamaha including Snyder Built and Dean’s Team I’m not sure there would have been Runabout racing this year in the pro class. I hope this all works out for the future for the sport! God Bless West Virginia Mud Bog racing… By the way who one the Basketball tournament in the pits where we all used to park?? Pro Runabout Stock/Open
BROCK AUSTIN: I had a great weekend in West Virginia for the final stop of the Pro Watercross Tour! Finished in 2nd while chasing down the leader but I couldn’t quite get by him before the end of the moto. My ski was dialed and I felt very confident on it, I’m very excited for the World Finals in Naples because I feel like I am getting faster with every race on my new ski! Pro Ski GP.
DYLAN OSBORN: I felt comfortable this year moving up to the pro level with the support from my sponsors, but after this weekend in Charleston I’ve realized that having a good race family plays a good roll also. Had difficulties with my ski and the support from the other racers trying to help and giving me a ski to barrow is what made the weekend worth wild. Glad I was to able to bring home a 3rd place from all the difficulties this past week. Pro Runabout
CHRIS LANGLAIS: The hidden trails prowatercross put on a great show in Charleston…. On Saturday I competed against 5 other very talented riders Justin sylvan gave me a run for my money leaving us tied for first we had to do a one minute run off… Justin rode well but I was able to squeeze the win on Saturday…. Sunday I was focused determined and knew what I had to do to win, I scored myself a very high score on Sunday and the win for the weekend …. also undefeated for the 2015 US National Tour. Amateur Freestyle National Champion.
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