ACE X Performance Takes on the Inaugural Monster Energy IHRA Pro Watercraft World Cup

By Rachel Cummings

The inaugural Monster Energy IHRA Pro Watercraft World Cup in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, delivered a top-notch, professional racing experience.

From a racer’s perspective, the level of organization was immediately noticeable. Live coverage, transponders, real-time scoring, and a pre-published, timestamped race schedule made for an elevated and incredibly smooth event. Perhaps most impressive was that the schedule actually stayed on track—something racers know is no small feat in watercraft racing.

That organization didn’t just improve the experience for those of us on the starting line. The livestream and reliable race times made it easy for family, friends, and fans back home to follow along and know exactly when to tune in. It brought another level of professionalism and accessibility to the sport and made the inaugural World Cup feel like a true premier event.

Vintage 550 Brings a Stacked Field

ACE X Performance showed up to the inaugural World Cup with plenty of motivation. A cash purse for the Vintage 550 class, combined with a premier Saturday spot on the race schedule, drew 11 high-level competitors from the Vintage 550 scene to Lake Havasu for two all-out motos and a fight for the podium.

The class delivered.

With a stacked field and money on the line, both motos brought competitive racing from start to finish. ACE X Performance was well represented, with three ACE riders ultimately finishing inside the Top 5—including the top two overall positions.

The Night Before: From Broken Driveshaft to the Top Step

Before anyone lined up Saturday morning, however, there was work to do.

After a heavy test session at Body Beach on Friday, Andrew Cecere’s race 550 snapped a driveshaft. With race day only hours away, Andrew immediately sourced a replacement driveshaft from an intact X2, and some other parts from helpful and kind locals, and got to work.

This wasn’t a quick parts swap. Replacing the driveshaft required invasive work on the ski, including pulling components apart and realigning the engine. What was supposed to be the final night of preparation quickly turned into several hours of unexpected wrenching.

Andrew got it done.

By race morning, the #476 was back together and ready to line up—and the hard work was about to pay off.

Andrew went wire-to-wire at the front of the field, winning both motos and securing the inaugural World Cup overall with a dominant 1-1 performance. After spending the night making sure his ski would even make the starting line, there was no better validation of the work that went into it.

And Andrew’s preparation wasn’t limited to his own machine. Leading into the event, he had also put significant work into Rachel Cummings’ purple #95 550. With a dialed-in ski underneath her, Rachel was able to execute on the racecourse and run toward the front of the highly competitive field.

It was a fitting example of what ACE X Performance is about: preparation in the shop meeting execution on the racecourse.

A Fast, Wide-Open Havasu Track

The World Cup track started with a long run into a sweeping left-hand split. Each side of the split contained eight buoys before riders came back together and charged down a long front straightaway. From there, a mixture of single- and double-wide turns led into the back straight before bringing racers back toward the left side of the course and the decision buoy for another trip through the split.

One of the standout features of the course was the width of the starting gate.  The extra space made for a safer start and reduced some of the chaos that can come with funneling a large Vintage 550 field into a single bottle necked turned.

Lake Havasu still provided plenty of challenge.

We were fortunate that the wind stayed relatively calm for race day, but boat traffic produced significant chop and constantly changing conditions. The wakes created rough, unpredictable terrain that changed from lap to lap and rewarded riders who could adapt, stay consistent, and keep their skis moving through the rough water.

ACE X Performance Puts Three in the Top Five

Vintage Ski 550 – Top 5

1st — Andrew Cecere #476 | 1-1 — ACE X Performance
2nd — Nick Scholten #42 | 2-3 — ACE X Performance
3rd — Jack Eidt #220 | 4-2
4th — Axl Jaracz #322 | 6-4
5th — Rachel Cummings #95 | 5-6 — ACE X Performance

Andrew swept the weekend with a perfect 1-1 performance, while Nick Scholten put together strong 2-3 finishes to secure second overall. Rachel stayed consistent through both motos with 5-6 finishes, securing fifth overall and giving ACE X Performance three riders inside the Top 5 of the 11-rider field.

Full race results:
View the Vintage Ski 550 World Cup results on LiveMotorSports.

Watch the Vintage 550 World Cup

If you missed the action live, the full Saturday broadcast is available on YouTube through the Monster Energy IHRA World Cup Day 4 livestream.

Vintage 550 Moto 1 — 3:16:24
Vintage 550 Moto 2 — 5:33:25

Watch Monster Energy IHRA World Cup Day 4 on YouTube.

Next Stop: IJSBA World Finals

The inaugural Monster Energy IHRA Pro Watercraft World Cup brought together a strong field of racers, challenging Havasu conditions, professional race operations, and great live coverage for those following along from home.

For ACE X Performance, we’re always working, testing, and looking for ways to bring something new to the table. Events like this give us the opportunity to put that work to the test alongside some of the best riders in the sport.

We’re thankful to have been a part of the inaugural World Cup and appreciate everyone who put in the work to make the event happen. We’re excited to see how it continues to grow.

With the World Cup in the books, we’ll be back in Lake Havasu this October for the season-concluding IJSBA World Finals.

See you there!