MEDIA INFORMATION
2024 UIM-ABP European Continental Aquabike Championship
MEDORI INCREASES HIS GP1 ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD; SOBIC CLINCHES EUROPEAN GP2 TITLE
Saturday, July 27: François Medori closed in on UIM-ABP European Aquabike Endurance Championship glory after taking Moto 4 victory in the GP1 category at the Grand Prix of Vichy on Saturday. Serbian racer Slobodan Sobic clinched the European crown in GP2, while Frenchman Pierre-Marie Vincentelli had already secured the GP3 European title.
After finishing second in Moto 1 and winning the next two heats, Medori was the strong favourite to clinch a hattrick of wins as he chased the European Endurance crown. He started the fourth heat ahead of Portugal’s Lino Araújo, Spaniard Ruben Jimenez Riquelme, Johan Johansson and the French duo of Vincent Thomas and Alex Barret. Sobic headed Michele Cadei in GP2. Sammy Maysonnave was a non-starter.
Araújo made the better start and edged in front of Medori through lap one, although the Frenchman kept him firmly in his sights as Riquelme, Thomas, Mirko Spoto, Johansson and Barret filled the minor places. Araújo and Medori pulled away from the rest of the field but Riquelme and Thomas maintained third and fourth with Johansson and Barret in fourth and fifth. Sobic continued to stay ahead of Cadei in GP2.
Medori remained patient and selected his moment to pass the Portuguese and grab the lead when Araújo hit trouble and slipped behind Riquelme, Thomas, Johansson, Barret and Spoto and retired after eight laps.
Medori hung on to claim a third Moto win by 6.24 seconds and will now start Moto 5 on Sunday with an unofficial 22-point lead over Riquelme. A finish will guarantee the Frenchman wins the European crown. Sobic duly beat Cadei to the GP2 title with a fourth straight win and a maximum 100-point score.
Ends
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