News

Thursday, September 4: Registration and technical checks are under their belts, free practice is in the can and the scene is set for a fascinating finale to this year’s UIM-ABP European Continental Aquabike Championship on the Allier River in France.

This weekend’s Grand Prix of Vichy, France is hosting the stand-alone UIM-ABP European Endurance Championship and the final Motos in many of the classes in this year’s European series that has already visited Poland, Portugal and Hungary.

Thirteen racers passed registration and checks and will compete in the Runabout GP1 category, where they will be joined by 22 entered in Ski Division GP1, eight in Ski Ladies GP1 and three contenders for European Freestyle honours. Free practice was the first opportunity to take to the course for some of the riders and Jéremy Perez, the in-form Oliver Koch Hansen and Benedicte Drange topped the times in the three respective open-water categories.

The flagship French event in the aquabike sporting calendar also plays host to the Ski Division GP2, GP3, GP4 and GP4 Junior categories. There are also three deciding Motos for the Runabout GP2, GP4, GP4 Juniors and GP4 Ladies classes with eight, nine, four and 10 lining up in the respective sections. The youngsters will also decide the outcome of the Ski GP3.3 Junior European Championship.

Csongor Jaszai, Leo Kete, Ander Hubert Lauri and Francesco Mariani topped the free practice times in Ski GP2, Ski GP4, Ski GP3.3 Juniors and Ski GP4 Juniors.

Tom Claerhout and Alejandro Prats Palau led their rivals in free practice in Runabout GP2 and Runabout GP4 and Katriin Nilbe and Aurora Filiberti started their weekends strongly in Runabout GP4 Ladies and Runabout GP4 Juniors.

Registrations have been received from eight racers in Endurance GP1 and a similar number in GP2. They took part in their opening Motos today (see separate news).