*115 riders from 20 countries turnout for UIM-ABP Aquabike European Championship opener

Saturday, 4 May, PENAFIEL (Portugal): World Champion Kevin Reiterer and defending European Champion Emma-Nellie Ortendahl enjoyed strong starts to their UIM-ABP Aquabike European Championship campaigns, topping the times sheets in Ski GP1 in yesterday’s official qualifying.

An impressive turnout of 115 riders from 20 countries descended on Penafiel for the Grand Prix of Portugal to launch the UIM-ABP Aquabike season with Reiterer and Ortendahl the headline acts.

Austrian rider Reiterer qualified comfortably in pole for Moto 1, almost two seconds quicker than Estonia’s Marten Manni with the Czech Republic’s Lukas Binar third, Ortendahl quickest in the Ladies division from Estonia’s Jasmiin Ypraus and France’s Jessica Chavanne. Ypraus also qualified in third in Ski GP2 behind pole sitter Rui Sousa and Andrea Guidi.

In Runabout GP1 Portugal's defending champion Christophe Agostinho was out qualified by Swedish youngster Samuel Johansson, claiming the family bragging rights his father Johan third quickest, another Swede Edvin Samuelsson topping the timings in GP2, Alejandro Artinano the pole-sitter in GP4, Robert Wallenbosn in Veterans.

Three-time and defending European Champion Roberto Mariani headed Jaroslav Tirner and Alexander Kuramshin in Freestyle, Goncalo Rodrigues quickest in Ski GP3, Ander-Hubert Lauri and Diogo Barbosa quickest in the Juniors categories GP3.2 and GP3.3, Janis Uzars fastest in Veterans.