Thursday, November 14: Corsican François Medori earned two thrilling Moto victories to seal Dairi Cup success on spectacular Lake Toba in Sumatra on Thursday.  

After a transfer from Pangururan to Silalahi, the two heats determined the outcome of the Dairi Cup before the return transfer to base camp for the overnight halt at Pangururan. Medori stormed to victory in the opener from American veteran Anthony Radetic and then overtook his great friend and rival Teddy Pons to win the second Moto in overcast and choppy water conditions. Radetic and Isahai Hajime rounded off the day’s Dairi Cup podium.

After four of the six Endurance Motos, Medori now leads the chase to become the 2024 UIM-ABP Aquabike Endurance World Champion from Radetic and Pons.

Early Moto 2 leader Pons said: “I finished eighth position in Moto 1 and I had a good start in Moto 2. Two laps first and Medori overtake me but, two laps before the end, I was too much tired and no power. The battery was empty. I went back slowly. I did not want to make a mistake at this point. It was important for the overall. We will see tomorrow night.”

Portugal’s Lino Araújo was out of position at the start of the second Moto, as Pons claimed the hole shot and led from team-mate Medori, Michele Cadei, Aitzol Beristain, Ou Moet Saly and Radetic. Araújo held eighth behind Isahai Hajime. Twenty-five riders started the heat with Thai Permphon Teerapatpanich withdrawing and joining the list of racers who had already missed Moto 1.

Pons and Medori became locked in a gripping duel for supremacy, as Araújo climbed a place to seventh when Ou Moet Saly pulled out after one lap. The Cambodian’s demise also benefitted Ruben Jimenez Riquelme and he found a way to pass Araújo to snatch seventh.

Up front, Medori squeezed past Pons to snatch the lead, as Cadei held off Radetic to maintain third place. But there was disappointment for Araújo: he was dramatically disqualified after two laps for running in the wrong direction, plummeted out of contention and his demise threw the spotlight on Medori with the way paved for the Frenchman to stamp his authority on the World Championship.

Medori began to edge clear of Pons and Radetic snatched third place from Hajime, Jimenez Riquelme and the impressive 15-year-old Jakarta rider Boanerges Ratag. Medori continued to edge away from the chasing group and the current European Endurance Champion reached the chequered flag to record an 8.572-second win.

Radetic picked up points for second place, Hajime rounded off the podium finishers and Jimenez Riquelme and a struggling Pons were fourth and fifth. Ratag, Filin Saly, Huang Rui, Scott Phillips and Makaio Wimylie rounded off the top 10. Cadei hit trouble and plummeted to the rear of the remaining riders.

Dairi Cup Moto 1 win for rampant Medori

Italy’s Lorenzo Benaglia was a non-starter after his injury from the fall during the Karo Cup on Thursday. Jun Ikoma, Johan Johansson, Alberto Santini, Trinity Ratat and György Kasza also missed out as 27 riders took to the water for the first of the Dairi Cup Motos. Pons had finished third in the Karo Cup but was towed back to the pontoon after the parade lap, made some emergency repairs and missed out on the original start.

Karo Cup winner Araújo made a strong getaway to claim his third hole shot and the Portuguese led from Medori, Michele Cadei, Chen Shan, Jimenez Riquelme and Radetic. Medori overtook Araújo before the start of the second lap and began to edge away from the championship leader, as Pons joined the Moto at the rear of the field behind Hilman Kurniawan. Hajime was struggling at the rear of the field in choppy conditions.

Medori continued to edge away from Araújo and led by 15.960 seconds into lap six, as Shan climbed to third and Jimenez Riquelme, Radetic and Cadei rounded off the top six. Meanwhile, Pons was continuing his climb through the field and held 22nd after passing five of the tail-enders. Ratag was running slowly at the rear of the field but Jimenez Riquelme withdrew after five laps, the Spaniard’s demise lifting Radetic and Ou Mouet Saly into fourth and fifth.

By lap 10, Medori’s lead had grown to 40.388 seconds, as Radetic overhauled Shan to snatch third and Pons climbed to 17th and began to close in on Kanina Ramadhina and Sosie Yoko. The Easy Rider star was soon up to 15th and pressing Makaio Wimylie and Ezio Lucchese. Teerapatpanich’schallenge ended on the end of a tow rope after nine laps.

Medori romped to an emphatic win to finish the Moto 52.778 seconds in front of Araújo with Radetic, Ou Mouet Saly and Huang Rui rounding off the top five. Araújo had been under investigation from the start of the race, however, and the Portuguese was duly handed a 30-second penalty that pushed him into third behind Radetic. Beristain was also penalised for missing a buoy and a rejuvenated Hajime, Filin Saly, a flying Pons, Cadei and Lucchese finished sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th after late trouble for Shan. Beristain slipped back to 17th.

Medori said: “I make a pretty bad start. I started from the outside and didn’t want to take any risks because the first buoy was close to the start. I turn five (in fifth) and then came back quickly into second position. After two laps, I passed Lino and try to save maximum energy and my ski because there are three more Motos. The race is not over. Teddy (Pons) had problems and Ruben (Jimenez Riquelme), so we need to stay focused and finish all the races to be on the podium on Friday.”

Tomorrow (Friday), a transfer to Parapat on the eastern shoreline of Lake Toba takes riders around Samosir Island to the start location for the two Motos that count towards the Simalungun Cup. These are scheduled for 11.30hrs and 14.00hrs (GMT +7) and are split by a Freestyle show to entertain the crowds. Riders will then return to Pangururan after the prize giving ceremony.