Sunday, September 29: The French trio of Pierre-François Savelli, Valentin Dardillat and Jérémy Perez secured European Championship titles in the Runabout GP2, Ski Division GP1 and Runabout GP1 categories on the final afternoon of action at the Grand Prix of Mira in Portugal.
A thrilling afternoon also saw Daan Hoeke celebrate his Ski GP2 European title, Marlon Tiik, Petr Dryjak and Sofie Borgström win their categories in the Grand Prix and Italian Roberto Mariani take the European title and the Grand Prix win in the specialised Freestyle category.
Moto 3 and GP win in Ski GP2 for Tiik; European title for Hoeke
Daan Hoeke had already confirmed the European Ski GP2 title but he trailed pole-sitter Marlon Tiik of Estonia by eight points in the battle for Grand Prix of Mira honours. Several drivers were still in contention for third place in the championship, as Hoeke, Gonçalo Rodrigues and Matteo Valente lined up behind the Estonian. Manuel Leite was a non-starter.
Tiik maintained his lead and edged into a 3.57-second advantage after the opening lap as Hoeke, held second from Rodrigues and Valente. The Estonian was never troubled for the duration of the Moto and a third win of the weekend by 2.42 seconds netted the Grand Prix win in style as Hoeke celebrated his European Championship success and Valente finished third in the title race behind the absent Jászai after finishing fourth in the Moto behind Rodrigues.
Savelli confirms European Runabout GP2 title; Dryjak takes Grand Prix win
Pierre-François Savelli headed the pole-sitting Petr Dryjak by 12 points heading into the Runabout GP2 finale, as four rivals would also battle it out behind them for third place in the European Championship. Dryjak lined up at the start ahead of rival Savelli, Robin Laforge, Adrian Herias, Fábio Costa, Tom Claerhout and Janina Johansson.
Dryjak made a strong getaway and edged in front of Claerhout, Justin Patzner and Savelli. The Czech continued to lead the chasing pack through the early laps and reached the chequered flag 3.89 seconds in front of Savelli to confirm victory in the Grand Prix. Savelli’s runner-up spot in the heat saw him secure the European title, while Claerhout’s third place was enough for the Belgian to finish in a similar position in the European Championship. Laforge and Patzner were fourth and fifth in the Moto but Herias retired after seven laps.
Borgström earns Ski Ladies GP1 Grand Prix success with Moto 3 win
Norway’s Benedicte Drange had confirmed the European Ski Ladies GP1 title on Saturday but she still had the small matter of trying to claim a clean sweep of Moto wins and Grand Prix success in Mira. Sofie Borgström was all but mathematically assured of the runner-up spot and she lined up behind Drange and ahead of Siiri Salonen, Naomi Benini, Joana Graça and Virginie Morlaes.
Borgström made the better start and led from Morlaes, Graça and Drange until Drange passed Graça to snatch third place after the first lap. The former World Champion led for the remainder of the Moto to secure her first win of the weekend by 4.60 seconds and, when Drange was later docked a lap for missing a turn buoy, the Swede also earned the Grand Prix win. Morlaes finished second and Salonen moved up to third when Graça was penalised 25 seconds for a start violation. Benini and Drange were classified in fifth and sixth and Benini finished third in the European Championship.
Borgström said: “I took the start and led the whole way. I am really happy with this result. It has been a long way back from injury.”
Dardillat confirms European title and Grand Prix double in Ski Division GP1; Moto 3 win for Helgeson
Valentin Dardillat took an eight-point European Championship advantage into the last of the Ski Division GP1 Motos. The Frenchman lined up in front of Oliver Koch Hansen, closest rival Morgan Poret, Alec Enderli, Felix Helgeson and Mickaël Poret.
It was imperative for Morgan Poret that he finished well ahead of Dardillat and the start was crucial. Helgeson was the quickest out of the blocks and the Swede led from Morgan Poret, Anthony Beernaut, Dardillat, Oliver Koch Hansen and Mickaël Poret, although the latter dropped out after lap two.
Dardillat was content to sit in fourth place as the Moto progressed to secure the double European and Grand Prix success. Helgeson held on to take a memorable 3.54-second Moto win, Morgan Poret finished second and Beernaut rounded off the podium positions. The result meant that Morgan Poret and Oliver Koch Hansen finished second and third in the European Championship.
Moto 3 win gives Perez Runabout GP1 European and Grand Prix double
A second successive Moto 2 victory before the lunch break had given pole-sitter Jérémy Perez a six-point lead over Martin Doulík Junior in the European Championship standings. The Frenchman lined up for Moto 3 ahead of Andrzej Wisniewski, Lino Araújo, Doulík Junior, Manuel Reggiani and Guillaume Hemain.
Perez made a powerful start and stormed into a 3.44-second lead through lap two with Wisniewski, Florian Bardoux, Doulík Junior, François Medori and Reggiani trailing in his wake. Regardless of what his rivals were capable of, Perez knew he would be crowned European Champion and Grand Prix winner with another Moto win. Medori edged ahead of Doulík Junior to snatch third place as French riders filled three of the top four places. Hemain retired after seven laps.
Perez gradually pulled clear of his rivals and called upon all his experience to seal the European Championship and Grand Prix double in winning style by the margin of 13.67 seconds. Wisniewski and Medori rounded off the podium places in the final Moto and Doulík Junior did enough with fifth place behind Bardoux to take the runner-up spot in the European Championship. Former series leader Samuel Johansson finished the Moto in seventh and did enough to snatch third in the European points’ standings.
Veteran Mariani wins Freestyle European Championship
Roberto Mariani followed up his opening Moto success on Saturday evening to secure a second Freestyle win and clinch the European Championship title and Grand Prix of Mira success after another impressive display of acrobatic and artistic wizardry on the water. Fellow Italian Massimo Accumolo finished second in the Grand Prix after taking points for third in Moto 2 behind Maximilian Martha. Paulo Nuñes and Wolfgang Strasser were fourth and fifth in the Moto.