Aquabike World Championship

Aquabike World Championship
Motor racing formula
CategoryGP1 (Class Pro)
Country or regionWorld
ChampionshipsRunabout Ski Freestyle
Inaugural season1992
StatusOngoing
Current championsRunabout GP1, Freestyle, Ski GP1, Ski Ladies GP1
  • France Francois Medori
  • Italy Roberto Mariani
  • France Mickaël Poret
  • France Jessica Chavanne

The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is a powerboating sports competition. The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is the premier class of jetski racing, founded in 1992. Aquabike jetskis are personal watercraft vehicles purpose-built for racing and modified according to class. The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is organized and promoted by H2O Racing Ltd on behalf of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), the governing body of powerboating and the exclusive entity recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). ABP refers to Aquabike Promotion.[1]

Types of Bikes

Currently, there are two types of Aquabikes (jetskis); Ski and Runabout

Ski

This term refers to an Aquabike designed to be stood upon and is powered by rear jet propulsion with a completely closed system. Skis, by definition, are the most demanding to ride as they require high fitness levels and great physical strength as well as agility in the legs and arms. According to the different degrees of modifications to the engine and bodywork, this type of Aquabike is used for 3 different categories: GP1, GP2 and Stock. Another category (GP3) also exists in which younger drivers, between the ages of 11-14, compete.

Ski bikes are also used in the Freestyle category however this requires further structural changes to the size and motor, allowing the Ski to become considerably shorter in length, lighter in weight and able to perform better at low engine speeds.

Ski bikes are currently used in 3 different disciplines of the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship: Closed Circuit, Parallel Slalom and Freestyle.[2]

Runabout

Runabout refers to the largest and most powerful bikes in the Championship. Runabout bikes are designed for driving while seated and feature a saddle (located towards the front) and a rear jet or a completely closed propulsion system. Runabouts are the most common jetski in the world, as they can also be used for recreational purposes.

As with Ski bikes, Runabout bikes are used for 3 different racing categories: GP1, GP2 and Stock, according to the different degrees of modifications to the engine and bodywork. Another category (GP3) also exists in which younger drivers, between the ages of 11-14, compete.

Runabout bikes are used in 5 different disciplines of the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship: Closed Circuit, Offshore, Endurance, Jet Raid and Parallel Slalom.[3]

Disciplines

The UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship is divided into 5 categories:

Closed Circuit

These races are held near coastlines. Regulations require that the path does not exceed 1300m in length. The circuit is marked out by different coloured buoys: yellow (right turn) and red (left turn). Riders are required to complete a set number of laps (varies according to racing division) at the end of which, the chequered flag is waved by marshals.[4]

Offshore

Offshore races take place at sea. These races are held across long distances and require serious consideration to be taken for refuelling as this is usually done on land. The circuit is bordered by large buoys (visible from long distances) or by natural landmarks like coastline, lighthouses, islands, rocks, etc .[5]

Endurance

Endurance races are held on long closed circuits. As endurance races are testing the long-term resistance of a rider and their bike, these races tend to last several hours and are more akin to a marathon as opposed to a sprint. Given the long duration of the race, supplies are required in advance to ensure everything runs smoothly. Runabout bikes are used in endurance races.[6]

Jet Raid

These races are spread over several stages. Riders are required to travel long distances marked by checkpoints in order to complete the race. These races are often very time consuming as riders cover one expanse of water, and reach the coast on the other side, where their bike then has to be transported by land to the next race stage.[7]

Freestyle

This category is more of a competition than a race. Riders are given a duration of 3 minutes to perform a rehearsed routine, one at a time. The stunts are evaluated by a team of five expert judges. The evaluation criteria are: quality, quantity and variety. The most common moves are Backflip, Barrel Roll, 360, Superman and Submarine.[8]

Safety

Safety and security is of paramount importance during all the races and tests. Each member of the rescue team present at all races is required to have a certificate proving their ability to rescue and transport personal watercraft and injured riders. The support of the firefighters and patrol boats is essential as they ensure the immediate action in case of more serious accidents. On the ground, there is a medical team specialised in traumatology who are able to accompany the riders to the closest hospital to the race site. In offshore racing, there is also a helicopter rescue service.[9]

Results

Runabout GP1

Season Champion Second Third
2023 France Francois Medori France Jérémy Perez Kuwait Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq
2022 Hungary Marcus Jorgensen France Francois Medori France Jérémy Perez
2021 France Jérémy Perez Kuwait Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq Portugal Lino Araujo
2020 Kuwait Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq Hungary Marcus Jorgensen France Jérémy Perez
2019 France Jérémy Perez Sweden Samuel Johansson Hungary Marcus Jorgensen
2018 France Jérémy Perez Sweden Lars Åkerblom United Kingdom James Bushell
2017 Kuwait Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq Sweden Lars Åkerblom United Kingdom James Bushell
2016 Kuwait Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq United Kingdom James Bushell Sweden Lars Åkerblom
2015 Kuwait Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq France Jean-Baptiste Botti France Jérémy Perez
2014 France Teddy Pons France Jérémy Perez Sweden Lars Åkerblom
2013 Kuwait Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq France Cyrille Lemoine France Jérémy Perez
2012 France François Medori France Cyrille Lemoine Italy Lorenzo Benaglia
2011 Italy Mattia Fracasso France François Medori France Cyrille Lemoine
2010 France Cyrille Lemoine France François Medori France Teddy Pons
2009 France Teddy Pons Italy Lorenzo Benaglia Spain Jordi Tomas
2008 Greece Constantinos Malamanitis Hungary Laszlo Sumegi Hungary Andras Vagott
2007 France Davy Vaitilingon France Philippe Chastanet France Jean-Philippe Dies
2006 France Cyrille Lemoine Italy Gimmi Bosio Spain Jose Manuel Cruzado
2005 Luxembourg Steve Stievenart Italy Christian Speciale Hungary Laszlo Sumegi
2004 France Didier Navarro United Arab Emirates Mohamed Al Mansouri United Arab Emirates Rashid Al-Tayer
2003 United Arab Emirates Nadir bin Hendi France Didier Navarro Italy Lorenzo Benaglia
2002 Italy Gimmi Bosio Italy Cesare Vismara United Arab Emirates Nadir bin Hendi
2001 Italy Gimmi Bosio Italy Lorenzo Benaglia France Didier Navarro
1999 France Didier Navarro France Cyrille Lemoine Italy Gimmi Bosio
1997 Spain David Selles Italy Lorenzo Camplani Spain Jose Casanova
1996 France Joël Bontoux Switzerland Jean-Luc Docquier France Pierre Nataly

Ski GP1

Season Champion Second Third
2023 France Mickaël Poret Denmark Oliver Koch Hansen France Morgan Poret
2022 France Valentin Dardillat France Axel Courtois France Morgan Poret
2021 Spain Nacho Armillas United Arab Emirates Kevin Reiterer Denmark Andres Keller
2020 Norway Stian Schjetlein Spain Nacho Armillas Austria Kevin Reiterer
2019 Austria Kevin Reiterer Norway Daniel Save Andersen Norway Stian Schjetlein
2018 Austria Kevin Reiterer France Raphael Maurin Belgium Quinten Bossche
2017 Belgium Quinten Bossche Austria Kevin Reiterer France Mickaël Poret
2016 France Jérémy Poret Austria Kevin Reiterer Spain Nacho Armillas
2015 Austria Kevin Reiterer France Jérémy Poret Spain Nacho Armillas
2014 France Jérémy Poret United States Chris MacClugage Portugal Tiago Sousa
2013 France Mickaël Poret Portugal Tiago Sousa Italy Alberto Monti
2012 France Jérémy Poret Spain Nacho Armillas Italy Alberto Monti
2011 France Jérémy Poret France Christopher Courtois France Jean-Baptiste Botti
2010 France Mickaël Poret France Jérémy Poret France Christopher Courtois
2009 France Steven Dauliach France Franky Zapata France Mickaël Poret
2008 Italy Alberto Monti France Bruce Lopez Italy Matteo Gaddoni
2007 Croatia Slaven Ivančić France Audrey Dujardin France Louis-Nathan Lavocat
2006 France Ludovic Caumont France Didier Navarro Italy Matteo Luzzatti
2005 Italy Alberto Monti France Kevin Laigle Italy Gianfranco Oliveri
2004 France Kevin Laigle Italy Alberto Monti France Didier Navarro
2003 France Kevin Laigle United Kingdom Ryan Burt France Didier Navarro
2002 Spain David Selles Italy Angelo Bertozzi Italy Alberto Monti
2001 Italy Alberto Monti Italy Andrea Finchi France Jerome Boyadjian

Ski Ladies

Season Champion Second Third
2023 France Jessica Chavanne Estonia Jasmiin Üpraus Sweden Emma-Nellie Örtendahl
2022 Estonia Jasmiin Üpraus France Jessica Chavanne Sweden Jonna Borgstrom
2021 Sweden Joanna Borgstrom Sweden Emma-Nellie Örtendahl Estonia Jasmiin Üpraus
2020 France Jessica Chavanne Estonia Jasmiin Üpraus France Estelle Poret
2019 Sweden Emma-Nellie Örtendahl Sweden Joanna Borgstrom France Estelle Poret
2018 Latvia Krista Uzare Sweden Emma-Nellie Örtendahl Estonia Jasmin Üpraus
2017 Sweden Emma-Nellie Örtendahl France Estelle Poret Latvia Krista Uzare
2016 Sweden Emma-Nellie Örtendahl France Jennifer Ménard Portugal Beatriz Curtinhal
2015 France Jennifer Ménard Sweden Emma-Nellie Örtendahl Portugal Beatriz Curtinhal
2014 France Jennifer Ménard France Estelle Poret Italy Marta Sorrentino
2013 Serbia Pija Šumer Italy Marta Sorrentino France Jennifer Ménard
2012 Portugal Stefania Balzer Serbia Pija Šumer France Julie Bulteau
2011 France Julie Bulteau Portugal Stefania Balzer Serbia Pija Šumer
2010 France Julie Bulteau Italy Marta Sorrentino Portugal Stefania Balzer
2009 France Julie Bulteau Spain Patty Guttierez Italy Paola Boggi
2007 Italy Alessia Ida France Audrey Dujardin France Julie Bulteau
2006 France Audrey Dujardin Italy Alessia Ida France Julie Bulteau
2005 Italy Elisa Sabatino Italy Tatiana Mercuriali France Victoria Molyneaux

Freestyle

Season Champion Second Third
2023 Italy Roberto Mariani United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla Portugal Paulo Nunes
2022 United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla Italy Roberto Mariani Italy Alberto Camerlengo
2021 United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla Italy Roberto Mariani Portugal Paulo Nunes
2020 United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla Italy Roberto Mariani Czech Republic Jaroslav Tirner
2019 United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla Italy Roberto Mariani Russia Sergey Chemezov
2018 United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla Portugal Paulo Nunes Italy Roberto Mariani
2017 Slovenia Nac Florjančič Italy Roberto Mariani United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla
2016 Slovenia Rok Florjančič United Arab Emirates Rashid Al Mulla Slovenia Nac Florjančič
2015 Slovenia Rok Florjančič Slovenia Nac Florjančič Italy Roberto Mariani
2014 Slovenia Rok Florjančič Slovenia Nac Florjančič Italy Roberto Mariani
2013 Slovenia Rok Florjančič Slovenia Nac Florjančič Montenegro Aleksandar Petrović
2012 Slovenia Nac Florjančič France Romain Stampers Slovenia Rok Florjančič
2011 Italy Valerio Calderoni France Romain Stampers Italy Roberto Mariani
2010 Russia Ivan Potanin Italy Valerio Calderoni France Romain Stampers
2009 Italy Valerio Calderoni France Romain Stampers Italy Roberto Mariani
2008 United Kingdom Lee Stone Italy Valerio Calderoni Russia Ekaterina Tolkonova
2007 United Kingdom Lee Stone France Romain Stampers Italy Valerio Calderoni
2006 United Kingdom Lee Stone Brazil Alessander Lenzi France Romain Stampers
2005 Brazil Alessander Lenzi France Romain Stampers Italy Rosario Caruso
2004 Brazil Alessander Lenzi France Romain Stampers United States Rob Bortolameolli
2003 Brazil Alessander Lenzi Germany Marc Sickerling France Romain Stampers
2002 Germany Marc Sickerling Brazil Alessander Lenzi Italy Federico Bufacchi
2001 Italy Giampaolo Marcante Italy Federico Bufacchi Italy Sergio Marcolini
1999 Italy Federico Bufacchi Croatia Kresimir Erderc France Stéphane Prayas
1997 Germany Marc Sickerling France Stéphane Prayas Germany Marco Scheel
1996 Germany Marc Sickerling France Stéphane Prayas United States Jeff Richichi

See also

References

  1. ^ Costa, Paolo. "History UIM". UIM Powerboating. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  2. ^ costa, paolo. "Ski". aquabike.net.
  3. ^ costa, paolo. "runabout". aquabike.net.
  4. ^ costa, paolo. "Circuit". aquabike.net.
  5. ^ Paolo, Costa. "Runabout". aquabike.net. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  6. ^ costa, paolo. "Endurance". aquabike.net.
  7. ^ costa, paolo. "Jetraid". aquabike.net.
  8. ^ costa, paolo. "Freestyle". aquabike.net.
  9. ^ costa, paolo. "Safety". aquabike.net.

External links

  • Aquabike World Championship
  • ChampBoat Series
  • UIM
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