Edgaras Riabko was honoured by the Lithuanian Government on Monday, October 26, a month after he was crowned 2026 UIM F2 World Champion.
Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius received Riabko at the Government in Vilnius, together with the men’s 3×3 basketball team that won the under-23 world title, and congratulated both on their results.
A Cash Award From the Prime Minister
By order of the Prime Minister, Riabko has been granted a cash award of 80 BSI. The BSI, or base social benefit, is the unit Lithuania uses to set state payments, and at its 2026 rate of €74 the award comes to around €5,920. The two 3×3 coaches, Deividas Kumelis and Algirdas Stuknys, received awards of the same size.
According to the Government’s press release, Sinkevičius told the athletes that sport is about more than winning, and that for spectators and fans the pride and shared emotion often count for just as much. Turning to Riabko and the basketball team, he said:
In your case, we can also celebrate excellent victories, the very highest sporting results.
He added that thanks to Riabko’s results, powerboat racing had found even more spectators in Lithuania this year.
Another Memorable Day
Riabko shared photos from the ceremony on his Formule 2 Facebook page, calling it another memorable day and thanking the Government of the Republic of Lithuania for the honour, the attention and the recognition of his team’s achievements.
The ceremony follows his homecoming on September 28, when he was met at Kaunas Airport with an oak wreath the day after clinching the title.
How the Title Was Won
Riabko opened the season with third place at the Grand Prix of Lithuania in Klaipėda in June, then took pole and the win at the Grand Prix of Italy in Brindisi. He held the championship lead from there to the end of the season, and fourth place in the finale at Vila Velha de Ródão was enough to secure the title.
He finished on 46 points, four ahead of defending champion Mathilda Wiberg on 42, with Nelson Morin third on 36. It is his first UIM F2 world title.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
