It will be a big ask for the Wanganui teams to make up ground in the 2014 World Jet Sprint Series but their fellow countrymen have world titles in their sights after the first round in Missouri concluded in the early hours of yesterday, New Zealand time.
At Poplar Bluff,Missouri, Canterbury's six-time world champion Peter Caughey showed not having regular navigator Karen Marshall was no problem, as he took replacement Shama Putaranui on a blistering 43.034 second time in the top 3 final, eclipsing his efforts back home during the national series.
Observers were confident Caughey, who had also put up the quickest times during qualifying, could have possibly broken into the 42-second mark with one more rotation.
Australian champion Greg "Crusty" Mercier was left with distant second after a 45.321s final run, while fellow Aussie Phonsy Mullen had a fuel pump break and had to settle for third with 49.58s.
Defending world champion and Wanganui expat Leighton Minnell and partner Kellie Minnell had looked good during qualifying in their new twin-turbo engine boat, but after times around 47-49s, they had problems in the top 12 eliminator and dropped out with 68.996s.
Meanwhile, the crew of Wanganui's Rob Coley and new navigator Ricky Lee had a lot of panel work to do after Poison Ivy went through what Lee called a "crazy" crash on their fourth run. "That was a huge crash we both out of the boat and the boys are trying to beat the damage out," he said on Facebook.
Coley was typically undeterred and got the craft back out there for a 50.046s time in the top 12 eliminator to keep hopes alive, but a wrong turn during the top 8 saw them post 64.073s and end their day.
There were 15 crews in the Group A division and Wanganui's Richard Murray, with navigator Ian Carter, had been looking good with 49s times throughout the qualifying runs. However, the opposition were getting quicker and a 51.579s in the top 8 saw the day end for the Ford-powered Mean Machine.
But across the way, Wanaka's Dave Hopkins, who raced the Superboat class back in the national series, was looking very at home in his new boat and kept putting up 48s times throughout. Hopkins would eventually win the final ahead of two Aussies, Brooke Dixon and Paul Gaston.
The second and final round will be at Lebanon, near Portland in the state of Oregon, August 31.
