New GP1800 Gets its First Championship Win

Congratulations to Yamaha and the GP1800 engineering team they have secured a big win in just its first  season!

Yamaha riders ushered in a new era of personal watercraft racing this weekend at the 2017 Mark Hahn Memorial Endurance Race where the newly introduced Yamaha GP1800 made its racing debut and soon after grabbed the top spot in the four-stroke runabout stock class.

The Mark Hahn Memorial is the world’s longest personal watercraft endurance race, and attracts teams from all over the world to compete on a 300 mile course on Lake Havasu, Arizona.

Yamaha riders Tony Beck and Chris Fischetti teamed with Dean’s Team Racing on the new GP1800. The duo battled heavy winds and choppy water to bring the GP across the finish line first in the class in the grueling race.

In addition, Yamaha racers Mike Klippenstein and Brian Baldwin gave Yamaha another podium finish after riding their Yamaha FX SHVO to victory in the Manufacturer’s Runabout Stock class. The team of Paul Pham and Derik Diep also finished first in the Veteran Master’s Open class aboard their Yamaha FX SHO.

“We knew the GP on the closed course was going to be the boat to beat in 2017. But with a win in a 300 mile race with rough conditions, it’s clear this model is going to be more than just a champ in the closed course,” said Yamaha’s Race Director Scott Watkins. “We are looking forward to the 2017 AquaX tour where the GP will make its debut on the closed course.”

“This year’s race was a true test of man and machine, and Yamaha came out on top in three classes,” said Mike Follmer, Executive Director of the Mark Hahn Memorial Race. “300 miles with 35 mile an hour winds and Yamaha showed they can take it all. Congrats to the Yamaha riders.”

Watercraft racing action resumes in April when P1 AquaX racing kicks off in Daytona Beach, FL.

 

Story Credit: https://www.yamahawaverunners.com/news/yamaha-racers-give-the-new-gp1800-its-first-championship-win-at-the-mark-hahn-memorial-endurance-race/

Comments

comments