Saturday, March 23: Frenchman François Medori, Estonian Jasmiin Ypraus and Belgian rider Quinten Bosscheearned Moto 1 victories in their respective Runabout GP1, Ski Ladies GP1 and Ski Division GP1 categories at the Grand Prix of Bình Định-Vietnam in Quy Nhon on Saturday afternoon.
Defending Runabout GP1 World Champion Medori, who moved up from outside the podium places to take first overall, said: “Rasmus (Koch Hansen) and Jeremy (Perez) had some problems and then I passed Marcus (Jorgensen). I was able to secure the first position. It is a really good start but we have to stay focused for tomorrow and try to do the same thing. I feel really good. I made a bad start because I make a mistake in the turn. I try to do my best to come back.”
Ski Ladies GP1 winner Ypraus, who picked up 25 championship points to lead rival Jessica Chavanne by three, said: “Jessica is super-fast. She had a great start and I just keep pushing and pushing her, hoping she would make a mistake. She had a small slide and I could pass her, so it’s a victory. I didn’t pass her on the race track course, she made a mistake, so I cannot be proud of that. But it was a great race.”
Ski Division GP1 Moto 1 winner Bossche, who has made a remarkable recovery from a serious racing accident several years ago, said: “Very good. This winter was very rough for me and my family. We had a lot of stuff to deal with. What can I say? First race of the season, first Moto, we won. Everyone can shut up now. That’s what it is. I try and do the same in Moto 2 and Moto 3. I am very happy for my team Fast Powersports. It’s always cool to have the first Moto of the season. Let’s see tomorrow…”
Opening Runabout GP1 Moto success for Medori
Jeremy Perez started the 25-minute Runabout GP1 Moto from pole position but Danish rival Marcus Jorgensen snatched the lead after an awesome start with Rasmus Koch Hansen, François Medori and Samuel Johansson holding third, fourth and fifth places. Jorgensen increased his lead to 3.809 seconds through lap one with the top five maintaining their positions.
Andrzej Wisniewski slipped to the rear of the 18-ski field with Anthony Radetic and Jun Ikoma non-starting and the latter struggling with ongoing technical issues.
Perez and Rasmus Koch Hansen began to apply pressure on the leading Dane through the next few laps but the Dane maintained a lead of 5.483 seconds on lap five. Medori continued to challenge Koch Hansen for third but the top 10 held station with Lino Araújo, Gyorgy Kasza, Martin Doulik, Ruben Riquelme and Yordan Nikolov running behind in sixth to 10th overall.
An abrupt mechanical issue cost Koch Hansen his third place and the promoted Medori began to pressure Perez in the battle for second behind Jorgensen. There was further drama on the next lap when Perez ground to a halt with his own engine issues and gifted second place to a flying Medori, who began to close in on Jorgensen. Samuel Johansson climbed to fourth ahead of Kasza, Araújo and Doulik.
Medori was in blistering form and he somehow managed to pass Jorgensen on the ninth lap and snatch the lead with less than four minutes to run. The defending World Champion maintained his composure over the closing turns to secure victory by 20.198sec from Johansson, who passed a struggling Jorgensen on the last lap.
Jorgensen was also overtaken by Kasza and Araújo and slipped to fifth with Doulik, Mario Lamy, Linus Lindberg Nikolov and Juan Cruz Lexcano rounding off the top 10 after late problems for Riquelme, who slipped to 11th.
A dejected Perez said: “A problem with the engine. I was second and I lose power. I try to keep going but I had to stop. We will change the engine and see tomorrow for the points.”
Ypraus capitalises on Chavanne’s error to win opening Ski Ladies GP1 Moto
Thousands of fans packed the grandstand on Thi Nai Bay and flocked to see the first ever Aquabike Moto to be staged in Vietnam with the Ski Ladies GP1 girls first on to the water for their opening Moto. After the traditional parade of nations, pole-sitter Jasmiin Ypraus didn’t make the best of starts and slipped behind Chavanne, with Estelle Poret and Sofie Borgström running in a distant third and fourth.
River Varner pulled up with technical issues on lap one as Chavanne pulled 3.868 seconds clear of Ypraus and maintained that lead through the next tour. Benedicte Drange climbed to fourth with Emma-Nellie Ortendahl, who is disqualified from the evening’s Parallel Slalom, managing to pass Borgström to snatch fifth. Chavanne maintained a constant gap over Ypraus heading into the last five minutes with her other rivals holding station.
By lap four, the French girl had extended her lead to 4.891sec and she looked set to take the chequered flag. But Chavanne made a minor mistake on the final lap and Ypraus was able to storm through to take the win by 1.942 seconds. Poret rounded off the podium places and Drange and Borgström completed the top five. Janina Johansson, Lisa Caussin Battaglia, Naomi Benini and Joana Graca finished sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth and Varner was able to complete three laps in 10th. Ortendahl was running in the top five but failed to finish the Moto after completing seven laps.
Quinten ‘The Bomber’ Bossche delivers explosive Ski Division GP1 performance
Twenty-one riders lined up for the opening Ski Division GP1 Moto. Kevin Reiterer started from pole but Quinten Bossche made an explosive start and held off Morgen Poret, Reiterer, Mickael and Jeremy Poret through the opening turn buoys. The Belgian began to storm away from his rivals and led by 5.204 seconds heading into lap two with the top five holding station and Swiss rider Alec Enderli and Oliver Koch Hansen running in sixth and seventh.
Bossche was in a class of his own and extended his lead to 9.779 seconds heading into lap three with no changes to the running order in the top seven. Toshi Ohara, Anthony Beernaut and Axel Courtois rounded off the top 10.
Reiterer managed to pass Morgan Poret and snatch second place with six minutes left on the clock but Bossch was way out front and reached the end of lap five with a comfortable advantage. Koch Hansen found a way to overtake Enderli and move into sixth pace behind Bossche, Reiterer and the three Poret brothers.
There were no late dramas for Bossche, however, and the sensational 29-year-old Belgian from Ostende eased his pace on the last lap and reached the chequered flag 11.459 seconds ahead of Reiterer. Morgan, Mickael and Jeremy Poret rounded off the first five, Oliver Loch Hansen finished sixth and Ohara, Beernaut, Courtois and Enderli completed the top 10.
On Saturday evening, thousands of fans will be able to watch the thrilling Parallel Slalom heats and the floodlit first Freestyle Moto with the on-water action starting at 21.00hrs.