Friday, November 15: François Medori was crowned as the new UIM-ABP World Aquabike Endurance Champion after the final two Motos to decide the outcome of the Simalungun Cup on spectacular Lake Toba in Sumatra on Friday.

Medori had already confirmed the European Endurance title in Vichy back in the summer and he added world success to the Dairi Cup he won on Thursday. Victory in the day’s Simalungun Cup went to Japan’s Isahei Hajime with Medori and American Anthony Radetic coming home in second and third. The result also confirmed that Radetic and Hajime finished on the podium behind Medori in the World Endurance Championship.  Three continents were represented in the final Endurance Podium: Europe, North America and Asia.

Medori said: “It was very hard. I knew that I had to finish eighth (in Moto 2) if Anthony won the race. I managed the ski all the Moto. It was really long and hard. It was rough weather but I did my best over the three days. I want to thank the team without them I cannot win. I also want to thank my family and all the Indonesian people. It has been a crazy day but I really love this country.”

Simalungun Cup winner Hajime added: “I am very happy with this result.”

Corsica-born pharmacist Medori headed into the final Moto with a 13-point cushion over Radetic and a lead of 14 points over friend and rival Teddy Pons. Portugal’s Lino Araújo was still in striking distance in fourth place, 20 points off the lead.

Twenty-five riders started the last of the Endurance Motos and Araújo claimed the hole shot from György Kasza, Pons, Medori, Michele Cadei, Aitzol Beristain, Hajime, Radetic, Johan Johansson and Kylie Ellmers. The Portuguese held off Kasza to lead by 1.568 seconds through lap one. Ruben Jimenez Riquelme was not able to start after his technical issues in Moto 1.

Kasza was not to be denied, however, and he managed to pass Araújo and snatch the lead with Pons and Medori nestled safely into second and third. Araújo continued to hold second but he was under investigation from race officials for a potential start infringement, as Kasza’s lead grew to 23.512 seconds through six laps. Johansson slipped down the rankings and the Swedish veteran’s issues lifted Ellmers to ninth and Jakarta-based Boanerges Ratag into 10th.

Radetic moved into sixth at the expense of Cadei but Kasza continued to lead by 34.526 seconds after nine laps. Hajime passed Medori to claim fifth but Kasza was on a roll and had already lapped the field up to 10th place. Ellmers climbed to eighth and Ratag moved into ninth when Cadei slipped back to 10th.

It was then Araújo’s turn to hit trouble and the Portuguese plummeted to sixth before pulling out after lap 14 with Kasza leading from Hajime, Pons, Medori and Radetic. Radetic was in determined mood though and the former Iron Man champion moved into third with Medori and Pins holding fourth and fifth.

Kasza looked set to hold on for the win but he dramatically ground to a halt with less than four minutes of the race to run. His cruel luck lifted Hajime into the lead and the delighted Japanese came home 29.250 seconds in front of Radetic. Third place was sufficient for Medori to become World Champion with Beristain finishing fourth.

Ellmers, Filin Saly, Chen Shan, Scott Phillips, Permphon Teerapatpanich and Johansson rounded off the top 10. Fikri Rajab took a tumble in the closing stages of the 35-minute Moto and Pons faded towards the end and finished 16th.

Simalungun Cup Moto 1 win for Medori

Twenty-seven of the original 33 riders took the start of the opening Moto for the Simalungun Cup after a 48km transfer from base camp in Pangururan to Parapat. After winning the Dairi Cup on Thursday, Medori headed into the penultimate Moto of the three days with a slender two-point lead over Radetic with Pons seven points adrift in third.

Medori nailed the hole shot from György Kasza, who had spent Thursday repairing his ski after engine problems on Wednesday. Birthday boy Pons slotted into third ahead of Hajime, Teerapatpanich, Jimenez Riquelme, Araújo and Radetic. Medori stretched his lead to 3.479 seconds after three laps, as Jimenez Riquelme moved into fifth with all 27 riders still running. Both Teerapatpanich and Jimenez Riquelme had overcome super charger issues that had ruined their chances on Thursday.

The top eight held station into lap nine with Kasza managing to restrict Medori to a lead of 4.477 seconds. Hajime then managed to pass Pons and snatch third as Medori began to stretch his legs and increased his lead over Kasza to 18.450 seconds through 11 laps. Pons came under severe pressure from Jimenez Riquelme but the Spaniard’s efforts were not rewarded and he hit trouble and dropped out of contention after 14 laps, as talented Indonesian youngster Boanerges Ratag took a tumble and retired.

A slowing Medori held on over the closing laps to beat Kasza to the chequered flag by 4.133 seconds with Hajime claiming the final spot on the Moto podium. Pons finished fourth but Medori’s victory enabled him to stretch his overall championship lead to 13 points over Radetic and 14 over his fellow countryman Pons. Araújo edged out Teerapatpanich for fifth and Radetic, Ou Mouet Saly, Aitzol Beristain and Kylie Ellmers rounded of the leading 10 finishers. Filin Saly was penalised for missing a turn buoy.

Medori said: “It was the hardest race from the beginning of the weekend. The track was really short. There were waves and you had to be focused every second. It was really hard. I pushed maximum to stay in first position. I knew that György didn’t race yesterday and the first day but I needed this win towards the title. I will manage the next one more to finish the race and win the title.”

Runner-up Kasza added: “It was difficult to pass him from the outside for the hole shot. But it was a good fight. After six of seven laps, my engine stopped two times. I restart and he ran away by more than 10 seconds. After, I tried to catch him. It was so choppy. It was more technical. In the flat everyone can push 100%. In the chop, you need some experience. It was an electrical issue with the engine. I hope it stopped now.”

Tomorrow (Saturday), a hectic two-day programme for the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Circuit Pro Championship gets underway in Pangururan on the west of Samosir Island with free practice, starting at 09.00hrs (GMT +7).

The qualifying sessions follow from 10.30hrs onwards and precede the three opening Motos from 15.15hrs and an additional practice session for Freestyle entrants. A Parallel Slalom competition and the first of the Freestyle Motos will entertain the crowds in Pangururan after nightfall from 19.00hrs.