Hydrospace Update
02/20/07

On Feb 15, 2007, an APBA representative, together with an IJSBA representative, inspected the Hydrospace USA Facilities. The facilities were found to have 64 units in stock for distribution to USA dealers. An inspection of the Hydrospace USA sales records show an additional 54 units had been sold or shipped to dealers. By meeting the homologation requirement, the S4 is legal for USA competition as of February 19, 2007. As voted on at the APBA annual meeting, part of the requirement for allowing the Hydrospace S4 to compete in Stock classes is requiring the Hydrospace S4 to run a boost regulator valve set at a level that will create competitive racing in the class. IJSBA rules requires turbo/supercharged boats to run by Stock class rules in Limited class. We have yet to receive a concrete answer from the IJSBA as to if the boost regulator valve will be required to be run on the boat in Limited class, and if so, what will the boost regulator valve be required to be set at. So for now, until the boost regulator valve has been tested and is available for sale to Hydrospace owners, and we get clear cut answers to our questions, the boat can compete in Open Ski classes in the United States.

On February 15, 2007 the first day of testing was done on the Hydrospace S4 boost regulator valve. Testing was done with Hydrospace USA and included testing the valve at a Stock setting and comparisons were made to a well built Stock class Kawasaki SXR. Testing was also done on the Hydrospace with a ECU installed, with and without a boost regulator valve installed on the Hydrospace S4, and a comparison was made to a Limited SXR. The APBA has determined that further testing by the APBA is needed to determine how the Hydrospace will fit into U.S. racing for the Stock and Limited classes. Hydrospace USA is offering assistance including a boat and boost regulator valve for additional testing. We will also use a current APBA member's stock Hydrospace for comparison tests.

The first race of the season of 2007 is the Mark Hahn Havasu 300. The Hydrospace will be eligible to race at this event in a Four-stroke Open Ski class that is offered by the promoters of this event. While the first closed course race is still 2 months away, the APBA and Hydrospace USA want the testing of the valve completed very quickly, so that Hydrospace owners will know what will need to be done to the boat to compete in Stock and Limited classes. We will keep you updated on the progress of the testing.