Australian Pro Runabout champion James Masterton enjoyed a successful weekend recently at the 2011 Yamaha Motosurf Championships. The current national ranked number one made the journey up from Sydney to Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to compete in both race and freeride competition. The swell and surf conditions predicted a solid but messy four to six feet for the weekends event however the actual day saw only half that. This was going to be the first time that Masterton would compete in freeride competition, having been devoted solely to racing the past 14 years. “ I was looking really forward to this event, I love racing in the surf plus the freeride and freestyle side of the sport has taken off and is a more relaxed atmosphere than pro racing so I was pumped to do both.”
The event took place June 11-12 on Mudjimba Beach, Maroochydore under cloudy skies. Saturday featured a relaxed ride day for freeride competitors to practice and prepare for Sunday competition, unfortunately for James a submerged engine filled with water and put a stop to his freestyle debut. Sunday weather was much warmer and straight after Pro Runabout practice came moto one. James was third into the first turn and by lap two had passed both lead riders to claim an opening victory. Moto two again saw third position off the start however this time a pass could not be made, leaving him in position three by race end and a close points battle going into the main. Moto three was to be the decider for an overall and a perfect holeshot saw him lead the field into turn one. On lap three disaster struck as James got ejected off his Sea-Doo RXT 260 and had to remount in last position. For the remaining eight laps he put on a solid charge, carving through the field up to the lead riders. With only a lap remaining he was out of time to attempt a pass and finished second overall. “ We were down this weekend on horsepower as we predicted the surf conditions would be bigger, but if I didn’t come off on lap three we would have had the overall… second is still satisfying I guess.”
With all the major events over now for Australian competition, Masterton gets set to take on the world at the 30th Annual IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona taking place on October 1st-9th.
PRO RUNABOUT FINAL RESULTS
1st. Rob White
2nd. James Masterton
3rd. Matt Nolan
4th. Anthony Antees
5th. Mitch Boulden
Tags: 2011 Yamaha Motosurf Championships, freeride, GoPro, James Masterton, ODI, Pro Runabout Finals