Attempt to break Jet Ski Speed Record

​Hold on tight, because a world speed record is about to be shattered! Outback Steak House and Riva Yamaha have joined forces to push the limits of personal watercraft speed. With 55-year-old Forrest Smith at the helm of his own 2001 Yamaha WaveRunner GP1200R, they are aiming to break the Guinness Book of World Records top speed record. The current record was set by Ray Purkiss of Great Britain in 1997, who achieved a top speed of 56.68 mph on a Yamaha WaveRunner.
But that's not all. Last year, an unofficial top speed of 81 mph was recorded during a magazine test of a Yamaha WaveRunner GP1200R, and now Smith and the Riva Yamaha Race and R&D Departments are determined to go even faster. The stock hull of the Yamaha WaveRunner GP1200R will remain the same, but the engine will be heavily modified to attempt a top speed of 90 mph. This will be achieved by taking the stock 1200cc Yamaha Marine power plant and building it into a 300 horsepower 1400cc powerhouse. And just to make sure they can reach that record-breaking speed, a nitrous oxide system will be added to give the engine an extra boost.
The official record-breaking attempt is set to take place in late July at the Riva Yamaha fresh water test facility in Pompano Beach, Florida. To ensure accurate measurement, the Stalker ATS radar gun and stats system, recognized as the leading testing system in the watercraft industry, will be used to document the speed runs.
This is no small feat, and the official sponsors of this world record attempt are backing Smith and Riva Yamaha all the way. Outback Steak House, Riva Yamaha, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA, Novi, Factory Pipe, Skat-Trak, UMI, Exotic Signs, and VP Racing Fuels are all on board for this adrenaline-fueled adventure. Get ready for a wild ride, because this team is determined to make history!