Jetskiing: Bay rider third in open class

BAY PLACEGETTER: Hawke's Bay's Brodie Murrell on his way to fourth place in the Expert Elite Open class. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

When it comes to motorsport luck can often be just as critical as the best equipment ... just ask Hawke's Bay jetskier Hayden Ericksen.

"I was lucky my first race was re-run after it was red flagged after I came off at 100km/h down the back straight and my boat went over into the next lane and impeded some of the other competitors. I got third in the re-run and third overall in the Expert Elite Open Pole Ski class," Ericksen said as he reflected on the best performance by the three Hawke's Bay competitors in the North Island championships at Takapau's Backpaddock Lakes during the weekend.

The class was won by Canterbury's Marshall Brown who is a world ranked veteran rider and Auckland 19-year-old Tayne Lemon who is a two-time world champion. The fact Ericksen Honda mechanic Ericksen, 30, was riding his rebuilt open bike at an event for the first time added to the significance of his feat.

"This weekend was a learning curve. We tested it for the first time on Thursday night."

Ericksen has been a jetski racer for three years and his previous best placing in the North Island champs was a third in the Expert Elite Light Stock class last year. A big fall yesterday morning in the stock class at the Axis CNC Routered Innovations-sponsored champs which attracted 51 competitors to Takapau was a key factor in his fifth overall placing in this class.

In March he will tackle some South Island Series events as part of his buildup to the Wellington-hosted nationals.

"The South Island is where the good competition is because they have good numbers and good training programmes," Ericksen added.

Hawke's Bay 16-year-old Brodie Murrell was fourth in the open class and nagged by engine problems in the stock class.

Hawke's Bay's Russell Thorogood finished fifth in the open class and also experienced engine problems in the stock class.