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Sunday, September 7: Corsican racer François Medori and Italian Matthias Giraldo were crowned as the 2025 UIM-ABP European Aquabike Endurance champions after the final Motos at the Grand Prix of Vichy in France on Sunday.
Medori dominated the Endurance GP1 category with five consecutive victories to amass a perfect 125 points score. Matthias came under pressure from Frenchman Steve Sarnin but did enough to seal the win in GP2, which was decided over four Motos.
Medori said: “A perfect weekend for us, winning in circuit and endurance. That was the goal this weekend. I am very happy. My team (Easy Rider) did some amazing work. Teddy (Pons) is the best. The ski finished all the Moto and I win seven of the eight Motos over the entire weekend (including circuit). Jéremy (Perez) won the other. Easy Rider has won everything. I am happy for this title – a great weekend for Easy Rider!”
Medori romps to European crown with Moto 5 win
Medori lined up at the start of the fifth and final Endurance GP1 Moto with a lead of 23 points over his nearest rival Michelle Cadei. Third-placed Emanuele Masala was 30 points adrift and not in a position to catch Medori. Only a non-finish and victory for Cadei could swing the pendulum in the Italian’s favour.
Only six of the eight racers made the start with Ruben Jimenez Riquelme and Anderson Gouveia Dos Santos again on the sidelines. Medori headed off into the distance once again, was never troubled, eased his pace to conserve the ski and secured the European endurance crown in style with another win and a maximum 125 points.
Pierre-Marie Matelli came home in second from Cadei, Masala,Pierre-Alexandre Peloux and Alberto Santini. The result was sufficient for Cadei to finish as runner-up in the championship ahead of Masala.
Medori and Sarnin on top again in Moto 4; Giraldo seals European GP2 title
The French duo of Medori and Sarnin repeated their Moto 3 successes with victories in the fourth Moto of the European Endurance Championship on Sunday morning.
Medori managed his pace to perfection to lead his Endurance GP1 rivals to the chequered flag and record a 51.53-second victory. Pierre-Marie Matelli came home in second place with Cadei, Masala and Pierre-Alexandre Peloux rounding out the top five, although Cadei was docked five championship points for missing a turn buoy. Medori’s lead of 23 points over Cadei meant he only had to finish the final Moto to be crowned European champion. Neither Ruben Jimenez Riquelme nor Anderson Gouveia Dos Santos started the Moto.
Sarnin finished a lap ahead of Baldassari and Giraldo in Endurance GP2. Domantas Vaznys did not start the Moto. Matthias duly confirmed overall victory in the Endurance GP2 category with a six-point cushion over Sarnin with Baldassari eight points adrift in third.
Medori said: “The race was the same, like yesterday. It was really hard conditions. I made a gap and tried to manage. My ski is still working. One more Moto to go. I need to finish this Moto, so we go to Moto 5 in a good position.”