Caymanian watercraft racer, James Munroe Jr., was headed for a top finish in the opening round of the 2025 Monster Energy P1 AquaX National Championship in New Orleans, until mechanical issues left him off the podium.
A familiar face on the AquaX circuit, Munroe Jr., 19, came into the 2025 season with a strong pedigree.
His previous P1 AquaX appearances in the Amateur 200 class tell the story of incremental improvement.
He secured a third-place finish in Kissimmee, Florida in 2023, followed by a fourth in Michigan City, Indiana and another third in Laporte, Indiana, both in 2024.
He then moved up to a second place in Kissimmee, Florida and, notably, clinched first place in Clearwater, Florida, both in 2024.
This consistent climb through the ranks highlights his dedication and skill.
In New Orleans, Munroe Jr., aboard his 2024 Yamaha GP1900, skilfully executed his race plan during the initial stages of the endurance event, which features riders battling for 30 minutes plus a final lap, with three-to-four such races taking place throughout the weekend.
“I was holding a consistent place in the top three for the first two races,” he told the Compass.
However, he was left disappointed by the unforgiving nature of motorsports in the most crucial moment.
“Unfortunately, [my engine blew up] in the third and last [race]. This resulted in me placing fourth and missing a podium [finish] by one point,” he said.
A discouraging end to a weekend that promised so much, the mechanical failure served as a harsh reminder of the fine margins in professional racing; however, Munroe Jr. has taken on a critical lesson.
“From this experience, I learned that a backup [watercraft] will be needed going forward in the event that anything unexpected and catastrophic occurs,” he said.
Despite the New Orleans setback, Munroe Jr.’s racing calendar remains active with his sights on round three of the Cayman Islands Watercraft Association tour where he will compete in the Naturally Aspirated (NA) Lites Class.
This third round – referred to as All In – is scheduled for 20 July at Colliers Public Beach in East End from 10:30am.
Following that event, he’ll be back on the P1 AquaX circuit for the Sheboygan, Wisconsin round set for 8-10 Aug.
Marking his second full year as a professional athlete after four years of total racing experience, Munroe Jr. said, “I race for the love of the sport and inspiration of others.”
He added, “This led to founding my own race team which I am taking to a completely new level in this industry. My ultimate goal in watercraft racing is to earn numerous world titles and therefore push the boundaries of what’s achieved [for] my family, country and the Caribbean.”
