Title upset in jet sprint series

Having taken their third successive round win in the Scott Waterjet international Group A category of the 2010 Jetpro Jetsprint series, Auckland’s Baden Gray and navigator Tanya Iremonger have a seven point lead over series stalwarts Reg and Julie Smith (Taupo).

In contrast to the Suzuki super boat and Jetpro Lites categories, defending champions Richard Burt/Roger Maunder and David Stone/Steve Greaves have re-gained the upper-hand in their respective title chase after the recent Meremere weekend.

However for the engine restricted Scott Waterjet Group A class, it’s been Thames based Bevin Muir and navigator Kathy Barker who are playing catch-up to brother-in-law Gray, in a boat they share-drive.

“It’s all come together for me this season. Bevan is a hard-charger, he’s extremely hard to beat and my toughest rival,” said Gray, an Auckland based mortgage broker.

While each is out to better the other, Gray points out neither can afford to have a lapse in judgement during the high-speed navigation of narrow water channels.

“At the end of the day we have to look after each other and bring the boat home. If one of us biffs it the championship is stuffed for the both of us.”

With an eleven point difference between first and third for the same-boat rivals, Gray says they have established a reliable mechanical combination from their Chevrolet powered Scott jet unit that puts the onus on the driver.

“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” added Gray. “All I can work on is the driving, the lines, keep it smooth, fast and carry the speed.”

Confirmation of weekend’s results at the mid-way mark in the 2010 season, Palmerston North’s Richard Burt and Roger Maunder have a six point lead in the Suzuki super boat class over Wanganui’s Leighton and Kellie Minnell for second.

Bulls pairing David Stone and Steve Greaves are a paltry one point ahead of Whangamata’s Ray Thomson and navigator David Toms in the Jetpro Lites category.

The season’s fourth of six rounds will be contested on Sunday 14 March at the Riverside Jet racing track in Crownthorpe, 35 kilometres from Hastings.

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2010 Jetpro New Zealand Jetsprint Championships Standings - Drivers (after round three of six) - top four.

Suzuki Superboat Class

Pos No. Name Points
1 1NZ Richard Burt, Palmerston North, 86
2 3NZ Leighton Minnell, Wanganui, 80
3 88 Jamie Cooper, Wanganui, 77
4 74 Pat Dillon, Wanganui, 76

Scott Water Jet Group A Class

Pos No. Name Points
1 3NZ Baden Gray, Auckland, 90
2 30 Reg Smith, Taupo, 83
3 1NZ Bevin Muir, Thames, 79
4 15a Sam Newdick, Hamilton, 75

Jetpro Lites Class

Pos No. Name Points
1 1NZ Dave Stone, Bulls, 89
2 24 Ray Thompson, Whangamata, 88
3 13 Graeme Jones, New Plymouth, 81
4 11 Gerry Linklater, Wanganui, 73