P1 AquaX Marmon Dominates again 

Russell Marmon (Christchurch, Dorset) maintained his 100 per cent winning streak with a brace of wins at the third round in Plymouth.

The Kawasaki Ultra 300X rider took an early lead in both races and was then never headed as he powered to victory. The wins further extends Russell’s lead in the Elite Class to 36 points and took full advantage of the absence of closest rival James Bushell (Melton Mowbray), who missed AquaX round three as he was away racing in Europe.

Russell commented : “It was definitely rougher this afternoon, it always seems quicker in the afternoon race, secret of my success? I train really hard, and have been skiing for 20 years, I could have done another hour out there, I am used to races which are about 2 or 3 hours at a time, I just imagine James Bushell is on my tail that’s all, so I keep on it all the time.”

Behind the dominant Marmon came Richard Cable’s (Dridlington, Leeds) Kawasaki, who also had the same result in both races and now moves ahead of Bushell into second place in the Elite 300 points table. The Yorkshire rider said: “I have solved my problem with the grips from the last race, and I think with James Bushell not being here, it helped my cause today, I need to get my fitness up and ride more, it’s a different style riding in the cross winds and rough seas than I am used to more closed course racing.”

Serving soldier Nick Beer (Herne Bay) scooped the third place points on his Sea-Doo in Elite 300 and now also moved ahead of the absent Bushell.

The Am300 Class fell to Paul Attiwell (Abingdon) who also rode into third overall to give Kawasaki a podium lock-out. “That was good”, he said after the second moto, “the weather was really unpredictable, it didn’t allow you to get complacent and I had to be constantly alert and aware. I need more fitness, as I have been a short course racer and I realise the physical fitness needs to be higher in AquaX.”

Mat Shipley (Seaford, East Sussex) came second in Am300 followed by newcomer Stuart Steel (Paignton), whilst erstwhile championship leader Dave Huddleston suffered engine failure during Friday’s practice session and was unable to start.

In the Am200 Class Championship leader Duncan Johnstone (Fareham, Hants) had a memorable pair of races. After leading a closely fought Am200 battle in Moto 1 he was thrown off when he hooked a corner. He recovered and got back on and managed to stay ahead of nearest challenger Steve Robinson (Hull), who was making his AquaX debut. In Moto 2 Duncan won the class again revelling in the rougher conditions as he came fourth overall.

“Brilliant!”, was how he summed up yet another eventful AquaX weekend. “ I caught a wave coming sideways in Moto 1 which knocked me off my ski when I was trying to throttle through the rough bits to keep up with the fast boys. I like the longer courses and the rough water makes it more of a level playing fields as it’s not so much about horse power but more fitness levels and technique come into play. “

Elite 300 1. R. Marmon 120 points; 2. R. Cable 84 3. N. Beer 82; 4 J. Bushell 68

Am300 1. D. Huddleston 80 points; 2. P.Attiwell 74; 3. M. Shipley 68; 4. S. Steel 30.

Am200 1. D. Johnstone 120 points; 2. D. Lee 47; 3 = S. Robinson, D. Gaudin 34.

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