U.I.M European Open championship report

Union Internationale Motonautique


It is the report of European Open Championship Gp.Spain that it was done on 16 from May 14. The photograph will be inserted in "JetRider No.74".

From Spain
Edemondo G. Bertolucci
reports

As the golden era of personal watercraft is approaching fast and becomes more popular in Europe, the U.I.M. aquabike championships are highly acknowledged either by pilots and International media. Let me update you with the latest news from Spain. The first round of the U.I.M. European Open championship, second U.I.M. pro class event of the year, was staged in Nerja, an attractive sea site resort close to Malaga, in south of Spain. Sixty seven pro class pilots coming from 10 distinguishing countries such as Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, United Arab Emirates and Mexico took part in the grand prix of Spain to compete in the three pro classes allowed. The U.I.M. specifics follow the rulings established by the IJSBA very closely and the class allowed are the 785cc and 1200cc runabouts tune to superstock, and stand-up craft for freestyle category.

Pole position.

On the week of the grand prix about twenty five thousands locals showed up and party on "Playa Burriana" in Nerja to watch with great excitement a thrilling aquabike action. The pole position heat took place on Saturday afternoon along the 2500 metres U.I.M. pro class circuit, to determined the starting grid of the grand prix on Sunday afternoon. The Spanish Puertas Bustos Luis, racing for "Costa del Sol Team" on Sea Doo, won easily the 1200cc class. Second the European champion, Alberto Monti of Italy, Sea-Doo, third the Spanish Guillaume Vincenti, Kawasaki, fourth the Swiss Christophe Cuennet, Sea Doo. In the afternoon the weather condition got worse. Strong wind and choppy sea did not stop the Italian Alberto Aloisi taking first place on Sea Doo, in the 785cc heat. Second the French Dider Navarro, Kawasaki, third Alberto Monti and fourth Flavio Stefanini, both Italian racing on Sea Doo.

The day of the grand prix of Spain.

1200cc heat:

Forty three pilots had been competing all together in the 1200cc class to go for gold in the first U.I.M European round. Alberto Monti of Italy, current U.I.M. European champion, was engaged at once to defend his title from challenges coming from David Selles current World and American champion. Monti was also controlling closely the fast Cyrille Lemoine, France, Nadir bin Hindi, United Emirates Arabs, Csaba Gerencser Hungarian champion, Alex Morgan Mexican champion, and finally vice world champion Lorenzo Camplani, of Italy. The top position did not change until fourth lap when David Selles retired for engine problem, and Csaba Gerencser and Alex Morgan could not put up with the pace and dropped back position. Since then the French Cyrille Lemoine lead until the end of the race in front of the Spanish Puertas Bustos Luis, third Nadir Bin Hindi, United Emirates Arabs, fourth Lorenzo Benaglia of Italy, all racing on Sea Doo Bombardier.

785cc heat:

In the 785cc category eighteen pilots took part in the championship with the Italian Alberto Monti leading since the beginning of the race on See Doo. Second the French Didier Navarro, on Kawasaki, third the German Daniell Wagner, Polaris, fourth the Italian, Cesare Vismara on Sea Doo. The fast start surprised the current European Champion, the Finish Juha Laukkanen, Polaris, and 1997 European champion Diego Bertoli, Sea Doo, as they were both struggling racing in choppy sea condition. The top position changed around the 10th laps when Alberto Monti fell off his Sea Doo, and French Didier Navarro took the leadership on Kawasaki to win the grand prix of Spain. Second the Italian Alberto Aloisi, third team mate Alberto Monti both of them racing on Sea Doo. Fourth the German Daniell Wagner, Polaris.

Freestyle.

At the end of the afternoon it was time for freestylers to entertain the crowds with acrobatic figures and high jumps. Six contenders from Italy and Germany disputed the grand prix of Spain to collect the first few points available in the European championship. The Italian Federico Bufacchi, Yamaha, showed his class and impressed the jury with a great performance which made him take the first position. Second the 1999 U.I.M. American Open Championship the German Marco Scheel, on Kawasaki, and third the Italian Ettore Merenda on Yamaha.

Next and second round of the European Open championship is the grand prix of Russia which will be staged in St.Petersburg, on the 25th- 27th of June. Any Japanese riders interested in joining the U.I.M. pro class tour may contact myself at Spes directly, where I will be pleased to answer to any questions. However do not hesitate to log on to the most updated and popular aquabike web site available on the net. www.aquabike.net will offer you valuable information to catch up with the U.I.M. pro class tour.

Spes 9, avenue des Castelans Stade Louis II 98000 Monaco Tel 00377 92057384 - Fax 00377 92059673

Classpro@tin.it - edemondo@altavista.net www.aquabike.net

Marketing and communication project.

S.P.E.S., Sport Promotion et Spectale, is the U.I.M. contracted promoter since 1996 and since then Spes has been developing a marketing and communication project to stage during the 1999 aquabike season, four major U.I.M. pro class championships. The American, European, Asian and Middle East open championships and the world championship final. The pro class tour is made up by seven venues staged over three continents such as South America, Europe, and Middle East. S.P.E.S. is also providing USD $ 30,000 per race as a jack pot to share between prize money and travelling expenses, while USD $ 60,000 fund is allocated to the world championship final. Certainly a suitable reward for the effort made by the pilots who enjoy riding as well as touring to exotic locations in the world. The most invaluable pay back for aquabike funs is produced by the promotional package put together by S.P.E.S. marketing consulting team. S.P.E.S. offers an International tv and media coverage which provides a high profile of aquabike and promotes the sport world-wide. Features of the pro class events will be broadcast through summer over to Skysports, England, Canal +, Spain, TMC2 and Odeon tv, Italy, Absat, France, Tvs, Denmark, Startv, Asia, Fox Network, U.S.A., Fox Americas, South of America, Mnet in South Africa, Fox Galaxy, Australia and finally Jupiter in Japan.

International press coverage.

International press coverage reports with great interests, stories of U.I.M. venues. Australian Personal Watercraft, in Australia, Jet Rider, in Japan, Jet Skier in England, Sail and Powerboat in Russia, Motonautica in Italy, Hidrojet and Funjet in France have recently involved with publishing the exciting world of the pro class tour. To accomplish a major communication project, S.P.E.S. has developed a web site www.aquabike.net., dedicated to U.I.M. pro class championships and made available latest news, press releases, pictures of the race, and final classification.


Last Updated: June.21.1999