The Road to Lake Havasu: How LIQUI MOLY Fueled a Nation of Jet Ski Racers to Arizona

Written by Marine One Motorsports

Every September, the desert waters of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, transform into one of the most electric arenas in motorsports. Racers who have spent a season chasing points across the country converge on the self-proclaimed "Jet Ski Capital of the World" for a single, decisive weekend. The journey that gets them there has a name — and, this year, a title sponsor: The Road to Havasu, presented by LIQUI MOLY.

The Road to LIQUI MOLY Havasu: A Season-Long Battle on the Water

The Road to Havasu is the backbone of the 2026 LIQUI MOLY Pro Watercross National Tour, a coast-to-coast points chase spanning dozens of professional and amateur classes. Competitors face off in what's often compared to a motocross race — but on water. Riders navigate tight corners, wakes, and unpredictable "liquid tracks" at speeds that regularly top 60 to 85 mph, all without the seats found on recreational jet skis, making every straightaway a physical battle just to hang on.

The tour kicked off at Lake Havasu State Park before threading its way across the country — stops in Texas at Lake Crook State Park and Buffalo Springs Lake among them — testing riders in a variety of conditions before the series loops back to where it began. Rising travel and fuel costs even prompted organizers to adjust the championship format this season, counting only a racer's top three scores heading into the final round, a change designed to ease the burden on athletes crisscrossing the country chasing points.

It all builds to one moment: the National Championship Finale, held September 25–27, 2026, back in Lake Havasu City — the place where the "Road" both starts and ends.

Why LIQUI MOLY Signed On

For LIQUI MOLY, a German lubricant and additive manufacturer with a century-long reputation in motor oils and performance fluids, watercross is a natural fit. Few environments push marine engines harder than PWC racing, where riders wide-open-throttle their machines through chop and wake for entire heats.

Gary Driver, LIQUI MOLY USA's Marine Business Manager, has framed the partnership as a proving ground for the brand's marine lineup — an environment demanding enough to validate products before they ever reach recreational boaters. LIQUI MOLY marine products are made available at each tour stop, putting oils and additives directly in front of the professional teams using them under race conditions, as well as the weekend riders who show up to watch.

It isn't a new relationship. LIQUI MOLY has backed watercross events in the Havasu area for several years, including past International Cup events at Havasu Riviera Marina, steadily building its identity in the U.S. marine market through the sport.

More Than a Sponsorship

The Road to Havasu also reflects a broader evolution in the sport itself. Pro Watercross recently changed hands, with East Coast Watercross owner Shawn Dudek and Nauti Water Racing's Terry Hiebert purchasing the series and pledging to grow a discipline with roughly three decades of racing history behind it. Select classes continue to air on CBS Sports, giving the tour — and its title sponsor — national reach beyond the racers and fans trackside.

For Lake Havasu City, the tour is also a tourism draw. The city has leaned into watersports as part of its identity for years, and hosting the finale each fall adds another marquee event to a calendar that already includes boat races and its signature balloon festival.

Getting Race-Ready: What It Takes to Line Up at Havasu

Making it to the Road to Havasu finale isn't just about points — it's about arriving with a machine that can survive four days of wide-open racing in the desert heat. Race prep for a PWC competing at this level typically covers a few non-negotiables:

• Engine and fluids — A full inspection of the powerhead, cooling system, and fuel system, paired with fresh oil and additives suited to sustained high-RPM running. This is exactly the demand LIQUI MOLY's marine lineup is built around, and it's why the brand's products are on-site at every stop for teams needing a last-minute top-off or swap.

• Hull and ride plate condition — Race courses chew through hulls, sponsons, and ride plates. Riders check for stress cracks and hook or rocker changes that can affect handling in choppy, wake-filled water.

• Impeller and pump inspection — Since watercross runs on unpredictable, often shallow or debris-strewn water, a worn impeller or damaged intake grate can end a race before it starts.

• Electronics and safety gear — Kill switches, lanyards, and comms need to be tested, along with the required safety vest and helmet for the class being raced.

• A trailer and tow vehicle once-over — With riders driving hundreds of miles between stops on the national tour, teams also inspect trailer lights, brakes, and tire pressure before every leg of the trip.

Even recreational riders headed to Havasu to watch the finale benefit from the same checklist — a jet ski that's been sitting all summer needs the same fluid, impeller, and hull inspection before it's trusted in Havasu's bay traffic during race weekend.

Where to Go for Professional Service: Marine One Motorsports

For racers and recreational boaters alike who need that pre-race once-over — or a repair after one — Marine One Motorsports is the name that keeps coming up in Lake Havasu City. Located at 1891 Industrial Boulevard, the shop was founded in 1997 by owner Joey Pearce, whose family's roots in marine and engine service trace back roughly 45 years to his father's service station.

What started as a small operation known as Joey's Marine has grown into one of the most respected names in the industry — Marine One Motorsports is recognized as the nation's leading builder of personal watercraft race engines, a specialty that makes it a natural fit for teams competing on the Road to Havasu circuit. Beyond high-performance engine builds, the shop handles the full range of routine and emergency work boaters need, including:

• Annual oil changes and engine/outdrive servicing

• Spark plug and impeller replacement

• Transmission checks

• Trailer inspections — lights, brakes, and tire pressure

• Fiberglass and trailer repair

Customers consistently point to the shop's honest diagnostics and clean, professional facility as reasons they return. With race day pushing engines and hulls to their limits, having a trusted, experienced shop nearby is as much a part of the Road to Havasu story as the racing itself. Riders or boaters looking to get serviced ahead of the LIQUIMOLY finale can reach Marine One Motorsports at (928) 889-1077.

The Road Ahead

As the 2026 season heads toward its Havasu finale, the points battle remains tight across multiple classes, with the new scoring format keeping the standings fluid until the very last heats are run. Whatever the outcome, the formula is set for years to come: a nationwide gauntlet of speed and water, a title sponsor built around performance under pressure, trusted local shops like Marine One Motorsports keeping machines race-ready, and one unmistakable finish line on the shores of Lake Havasu.

Thank you for reading! From all of us at Marine One Motorsports, we appreciate you taking the time to follow the Road to Havasu with us. Whether you're chasing points on the tour or just gearing up for a weekend on the water, we're proud to be part of this community and grateful for the trust Lake Havasu boaters and racers place in our shop. See you on the water.