News
Saturday, September 27: Corsica-based François Medori, Italy’s Matthias Giraldo and Spaniard Ian Traba Arca held the overnight advantages in their respective Runabout GP1, GP2 and GP3 categories after the opening two Motos at the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore Grand Prix of Puglia on Saturday.
Twenty-three racers are challenging for honours across the three race classes in a bid for success in the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore World Championship, which is based out of the Italian coastal town of Torre Dell’Orso.
Medori dominated the Runabout GP1 category to record the maximum 50 points for a pair of heat wins, with Giraldo and Traba Arca repeating the feat in GP2 and GP3. Medori now has an eight-point cushion over Alex Barret and Mathis Vincendeau in GP1. Giraldo and Traba Arca lead their classes by four points from Davide Dimaio and Juri Tiozzo, respectively.
MEDORI, GIRALDO AND TRABA ARCA EARN MOTO 2 VICTORIES
Medori made a strong start in the second Moto on Saturday afternoon and his fastest lap of 2min 2.05sec came at the start of the heat, as he pulled away from Vincendeau, Barret and Alain Tarzia. Giraldo made the early running in Runabout GP2 from Dimaio and Cyril Destro, while Tiozzo led Traba Arca through the early stages in Runabout GP3.
By lap 11 of 27, Medori had extended his advantage over Vincendeau and Barret to over a minute in GP1. Dimaio managed to pass Giraldo, as the duo moved well clear of the pursuing Giuseppe Parilla and Frenchman Destro in GP2. Traba Arce overtook Tiozzo but the pair were closely matched in GP3.
At half-distance, Medori led the way from Barret and Vincendeau in GP1, Dimaio continued to head Giraldo in GP2 and Traba Arca began to increase his cushion over Tiozzo in GP3. Medori held on to win the 27-lap race and finish well clear of Vincendeau, with Barret, Tarzia and Alfio Galiano rounding off the GP1 top five.
Medori said: “The race was really hard again. It was really long and there were a lot of waves. We need to be focused all the time to stay on the ski. I pushed my maximum again to win this Moto. There are two more Motos and I need to be in this same position tomorrow night. I enjoy racing here. The place is really beautiful. We need to come back to race here again because it is one of the best places for jetski racing in the world.”
Giraldo got the better of Dimaio and Destro to collect another maximum haul of GP2 points and Traba Arce prevailed over Tiozzo and Ezio Lucchese in GP3. Luigi Borzachiello was docked 10 points in GP2 for missing a check point.
MOTO 1 OFFSHORE SUCCESS FOR MEDORI, GIRALDO AND TRABA ARCA
Medori, Giraldo and Traba Arca prevailed in the Runabout GP1, GP2 and GP3 categories in the opening offshore Moto on Saturday morning.
Predictably, Medori made a strong start and began to pull clear of Vincendeau and Barret in the quest for early GP1 glory. He posted an opening lap of 2min 48.02sec and that early target lap stood throughout the entire Moto. Destro was the early pace-setter in GP2 and Tiozzo settled into the lead in GP3.
Medori romped into the distance in GP1 and, by lap two, the European endurance champion was running 37.96 seconds ahead of Barret and 40.97 in front of Vincendeau. Dimaio took over the lead in GP2 from Destro and Tiozzo stayed ahead of Lucchese in GP3. Lucchese snatched the unofficial GP3 lead on lap four.
Kawasaki rider Medori fell behind Vincendeau before the half-hour mark but the Corsican eventually romped to an emphatic win in GP1 after completing 27 laps. Barret and Vincendeau jostled for second with Barret taking the honours, albeit one lap behind Medori. Alain Tarzia came home in fourth ahead of Michele Cadei, Emanuele Masala, Alfio Galiano and German rider Frederik Brandao. Vincent Thomas retired after 20 laps and Alberto Santini was docked 10 points for missing a check point.
Medori said: “I win the first Moto but it was really long, one and a half hours. In these conditions with a lot of waves, it was really hard. I pushed all the Moto to try and maintain a good gap between me and Barret behind me. There are four Motos so we need to stay focused and try and finish each one in this position.”
Giraldo got the better of Dimaio and Destro in GP2 on his Seadoo, while Lucchese became involved in a tussle with Tiozzo for GP3 honours. The win eventually went to Traba Arca, however, after a tracking error on the results had been rectified. Tiozzo finished second on his Yamaha with Luchesse in third.
The third and fourth Motos to decide the outcome of the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore Grand Prix of Puglia take place on Sunday.