Defending champion and clear-cut leader Kevin Reiterer of Dubai’s Victory Team will be wary of challenges in front heading into the Grand Prix of Italy – Round Two on the 2019 UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship next weekend.
More than 140 riders are expected to descend onto the picturesque town of Olbia on the north east coast of Sardinia for the second round of the championship that is scheduled to be held from May 31 to June 2.
The opening round of the season was held in Portimao in Portugal and Victory Team’s Reiterer got off to a sublimely dominating start in the Ski Division GP1 category while winning all three motos at the Grand Prix of Portugal. That performance has put the 26-year-old Austrian at the top of the overall standings in his class, and another solid performance next weekend will see the Victory Team rider stay focused for a defence of his world crown.
“Kevin ticks all the right boxes, not merely for himself, but for an outfit like Victory Team where we really set a high standard,” noted Huraiz Bin Huraiz, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Victory Team.
“He’s off to a fantastic start to the season and knowing his pedigree we would expect him to continue with this form for the remainder of the season. He is a gentleman and a true world champion as he stays focused on what he’s got to achieve,” he added.
That dominating performance from Reiterer in Portugal sees the rider, who made a world title-winning debut for the Dubai team last season, stay eleven points clear of Daniel Svae Andersen heading into the second round of competition.
“Kevin is a thorough professional who knows what is required of him,” admitted Huraiz Bin Huraiz, Chairman of Board of Directors at Victory Team.
“We have our small talks and he is so receptive of the role he has to play to keep his winning momentum going from one race to the other. He is a fast learner who is always on the lookout to improve his racing standards,” he added.
Following the huge response in Portimao, Aquabike Promotion have teamed up with the Olbia organisers for another bonanza programme of non-stop action with the elite riders in Runabout GP1, Ski GP1 and Freestyle being joined by a large influx of riders competing in the single event UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship for Runabout GP2 and GP4 and Ski GP2 and GP3.
The second round of the Slalom World Championship will take place under lights in the evening next Saturday. The first practice for all classes will take place on Friday morning with qualifying in the afternoon, with Moto 1 for GP1 and Motos 1 and 2 for GP2, 3 and 4 on Saturday, with a second practice session and final Moto in all classes on Sunday (June 2).
After Olbia, the riders will move on to stops in China (October 18-20) and Amaravati, India (November 12-14) before turning for the season finale in Sharjah (December 17-20) to close the season.
