Wednesday, 15 February: The early signs are that 2017 looks all set to be another fascinating season for the prestigious UIM-ABP Aquabike Circuit World Championship.

The first batch of contracted riders to have signed on the dotted line includes a raft of world european and national champions from 23 countries.

In all categories the defending world champions head the listings; in runabout GP1 Kuwait’s Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq is aiming to become the first rider to win three consecutive titles and take his tally to four. But he faces some tough challengers, Briton James Bushell and Swede Lars Akerblom. Also looking to unseat the champion is World Ranking number one, two-time championship runner-up and four-time european champion Jeremy Perez.

In Ski the intense rivalry between the world’s top four will continue, with champion Jeremy Poret chasing a staggering fifth crown and having to contend with the likes of Kevin Reiterer, Nacho Armillas and Stian Schjetlein, not to mention his brothers Mickael and Morgan.

Emma-Nellie Ortendahl will undoubtedly be the bookies favourite to retain her title, with Estelle Poret, Virginie Morlaes and Kylie Ellmers hoping they can produce something special to challenge the champion.

In Freestyle the man to beat is defending and four-time champion Rok Florjancic who will be looking to add to his current 17 Grand Prix win haul, his main opposition at this stage is brother Nac.