PWC Rally was fun in the Florida sun

Ziegler wins Riva Racing Hop Lap Challenge

WaterTop Unlimited completed its second personal watercraft rally event of the season with the St. Petersburg Barney’s PWC Rally in St. Petersburg, Fla. on May 10 to 11.

The weekend was filled with PWC activities, including the Riva Racing Hot Lap Challenge, Riva Grudge Match Drag Races and the AWA Poker Run.

In the Riva Racing Hot Lap Challenge, participants were pitted in a mock closed course race where each rider negotiated a two-lap buoy course for time in front of a beach full of enthusiasts. Nick Ziegler completed the course in less than 56 seconds on a Sea-Doo RXP watercraft, giving him the ‘hottest’ lap time, just ahead of Jason Ward.

Jesse Hernandez and Shaun Sullivan fought their way through the elimination brackets to go head-to-head in the Riva Grudge Match Drag Races final. Hernandez won the Riva Power Card first place prize on his Sea-Doo RXP, finishing one boat length ahead of Sullivan and his Sea-Doo RXT.

Riva Hot Lap Challenge winners Jason Ward, Nick Ziegler and Leo Demarco.

Josh Lustic entertained the crowd by putting on a thrilling freestyle display during the Trinity Composites Freestyle show.

Thanks to her winning hand of three tens, Jackie Cook took home the first-place check in the AWA Poker Run. Cook and other participants completed the 43-mile route under ideal conditions, enjoying the Florida sunshine and calm waters on the bay side, but more turbulent conditions were found in the gulf waters. Cook was followed by Joyce Lyle with two pairs (Ace/Queen) and Salvatore Staino, also with two pairs (King/Queen).

The 2008 St. Petersburg event was the first that Barney’s Motorcycle and Marine and Short Block Technologies (SBT) were on-site supporting participants. Barney’s conducted demo rides on the latest watercraft and sport boats from Sea-Doo, including the new 255 hp, race inspired RXP-X and RXT-X watercraft and 230 Challenger sport boat.

Next up for WaterTop Unlimited is the Bimini Road Rally, the only exclusive, all inclusive, four-day/four-night adventure ride from Miami to Bimini, Bahamas, which takes place from June 25 to 29.

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