12:29 PM Tue 18 Oct 2011 GMT
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'James Bushell takes World Title - IJSBA World Championship 2011'
RYA
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World Jet Ski Championships - Britain's James Bushell (27) from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, clinched both the World IJSBA 2011 Pro-Am GP Runabout and Pro Runabout Championship titles at last weeks Finals hosted by the IJSBA in Lake Havasu, Arizona.
Bushell was one of 804 entries from 40 different nations and 39 U.S. States attending the IJSBA World Championship, all battling it out for titles in a total of 48 closed-course racing classes as well as Pro Freestyle and Amateur Freestyle.
In brilliant sunshine and light winds, with air temperatures hovering in the low 80s and nearly smooth-as-glass water conditions, the final eight 2011 IJSBA World Championships were decided in front of a standing room only crowd of over 7,000 enthusiastic fans.
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James Bushell World Champion 2011 - IJSBA World Championship 2011 -
RYA
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In claiming the World IJSBA 2011 Pro-Am GP Runabout Championship on Saturday, Bushell had now racked up five World titles in his eleven years of racing.
Going in to Sunday's Pro Runabout Moto's Bushell was the fastest qualifier in the class of 29 riders. Taking second in the first 12-lap moto and winning the second moto secured him his sixth World Championship crown, beating former World Champion Dustin Farthing of the USA into second place.
In what can only be described as a perfect year Bushell comes to the end of the season having clinched two world, two European and two British titles.
Following his victory, Bushell reflected: 'It was pretty special having my dad there on the beach to greet me at the finish line. He's very happy -- I'm very happy. It felt very good, obviously. I knew I had a pretty good lead (on Dustin Farthing) so I was just cruising the last few laps.'
Of the 50 IJSBA World Championships decided, a total of 17 different countries won IJSBA World Championships. Leading the way was the United States with 14, followed by Kuwait with eight, Estonia, Great Britain, Portugal, Serbia and Sweden (three each) along with France, Thailand and United Arab Emirates (two each).
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James Bushell - IJSBA World Championship 2011 -
RYA
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RYA website
by Emma Slater
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Casey, TAS
