Thursday, 4 May: Nacho Armillas has upped the ante in his bid for title honours this season, confirming that he has switched machines and will run a Chris Hagest designed and built Pro Force Ski, but with the same Rotax engine he has run in the past.

The 24-year-old who lives in St. Cugat in Spain is clearly fired up about the challenge ahead and his new association with Prowatercraft Racing. “For sure some big changes for me this season and I am really motivated,” said Armillas. “I have done some testing on Lake Havesu and have prepared well for the opening round.”

Armillas is set to resume his battles with the likes of Jeremy Poret, Kevin Reiterer and Stian Schjetlein, another Pro Force runner, and will be intent on improving on last season’s race win, three second places, three GP podiums and third overall in the title race.

2017 sees the Spaniard set out on a ninth campaign to try to lift the one title he wants but that has so far eluded him - world champion - having come close on several occasions, taking the runners-up slot in 2012 and finishing third for the last two years. Despite his young years he has enjoyed considerable success, winning the Spanish Championship, multiple Spanish and Catalan junior championships as well as the UIM-ABP Ski GP1 European Championship in 2013 and the Ski GP2 title for the last two years and is the defending GP2 world champion.