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he early signs are
that 2017 looks all
set to be another
f a s c i n a t i n g
season for the
prestigious UIM-
ABP
Aquabike
Circuit
World
C h amp i o n s h i p
with
big
rider
numbers from 23 countries expected.
The season kicks-off in June with back-to-back
Grand Prix in the stunning region of Puglia in
Italy, starting with a spectacular action-packed
event in Porto Cesareo and the opening round
of the Runabout and Ski GP1 and Freestyle
world championship and the one event world
championship for Runabout GP2, GP4 and Ski
GP2 and GP3.
The championship will then immediately head
north and across to the Adriatic coast to the
picturesque city of Vieste.
In October the championship heads east to
China for back-to-back events which will be
announced in the coming weeks by the newly
appointed exclusive partner of ABP in China,
BUND Holding Group.
The first batch of contracted riders to have
signed on the dotted line includes a raft of
World, European and National Champions, as
well as an influx of newcomers.
In all categories the defendingworld champions
head the listings; in runabout GP1 Kuwait’s
Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq is aiming to become the
first rider to win three consecutive titles and
take his tally to four. But he faces some tough
challengers, Briton James Bushell and Swede
Lars Akerblom. Also looking to unseat the
champion is world ranking number one, two-
time championship runner-up and four-time
European champion Jeremy Perez.
In Ski the intense rivalry between the world’s
top four will continue, with champion Jeremy
Poret chasing a staggering fifth crown and
having to contend with the likes of Kevin
Reiterer, Nacho Armillas and Stian Schjetlein,
not to mention his brothers Mickael and
Morgan and veteran Alberto Monti.
Emma-Nellie Ortendahl will undoubtedly
be the bookies favourite to retain her title,
with Estelle Poret, Virginie Morlaes and Kylie
Ellmers hoping they can produce something
special to challenge the champion.
T
UIM-ABP
AQUABIKE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIPS
SET FOR
FASCINATING
SEASON
AQUABIKE
21