The Pro Runabout Open race was a wide open affair with the results in moto 2 turning moto 1's finishes right on their head. The only real consistency came from Brandenton, FL native Jason Russo, if you can call a 5-2-2 finish consistent. He did take the overall on his RIVA Racing Sea-Doo but there was plenty of high drama with eventual second place finisher Abdullha Alfadhel breaking down in moto 2 to post an eighth place finish to go with his two firsts on his Deans Team Yamaha. Erminio Iantosca was in the drivers seat going into moto 3 but he didn't get a great hole shot and was only able to manage a 3rd in the final race which left him on the final step of the podium. This weekend's racing definitely shook up the standings in the open class no matter the final ruling from Lake Charles, LA because James Bushell was only able to manage a fifth on the Sea-Doo RXPX he borrowed from Eric Lagopoulos, so the Hydro-Turf National Championship points race is wide open for this runabout group.
The Ski GP class was a more straight forward affair with Chris MacClugage absolutely dominating all weekend aboard his Monster Energy MACC Racing boat going wire to wire in every moto to take the victory. Rob Flores had a little scare early in the day when he needed some assistance from the medical staff when he came off the water after moto 2, but the Hydro-Turf Rockstar Energy rider was able to rally and finish well enough in the final race to nail down the second step on the box. Rick Sherker made up enough ground in the final moto on his Jet Tribe RIVA Racing boat to lock up the third and final podium spot.
We always look forward to high drama in the Pro Runabout Stock class but the soap opera never really materialized this weekend as a result of a practice crash suffer by Troy Snyder. Eric "The Eagle" Francis was able to grab the hole shot in all three motos and cruised to victory on his Dave's Auto Body Monster Energy Kawasaki. Snyder was able to muscle through his pulled hamstring to claim the second spot and keep his Hydro-Turf National Watercross Championship hopes alive. Tim Lapierre had the best showing of his career driving his privateer Kawasaki to an excellent finish in the number 3 spot.
In the Freestyle competition Jason Stoyer brought up his level and stole the victory from Daniel Martin with a stellar performance that wowed the judges and crowd alike. Jeremy Parr was able to get his XScream machine repaired with a borrowed set of handle bars and got back into the fight but was only able to manage a third. However it is a long season and it is still anyone's Hydro-Turf Freestyle Championship to win.
We had a phenomenal time here in Panama City Beach at the Boardwalk Beach Resort and we thank the Panama City Beach Visitors and Convention Bureau for hosting this event. We are also excited to announce be back here in Panama City Beach to the most beautiful stretch of beach in the continental United States again next year. We can't wait to see you in three weeks at our next stop in Racine, Wisconsin at the Grand Prix of Watercross.
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