Europe’s Top Aquabike Offshore Riders Gear Up for Puglia Showdown
The final countdown is on to the start of the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore World Championship in the Italian coastal town of Torre Dell’Orso on Saturday and Sunday.
Twenty-three racers will compete in four physically and mentally demanding offshore Motos over the weekend in their bids for glory in the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro Offshore Grand Prix of Puglia.
The first Moto will fire into life at 10.00hrs (CET) on Saturday morning and will run for 35 laps in an anti-clockwise direction around a race course designed by Aquabike Promotion and Hardwave on the Adriatic Sea. A seven-minute refuelling stop will be permitted during the Moto. The afternoon’s second Moto will run for 40 laps in a clockwise direction around the course with refuelling again permitted.
Italian racers dominate the entry with the host nation fielding five riders in the Runabout GP1 class, seven in Runabout GP2 and two in Runabout GP3.
Corsica-based François Medori has been the form rider in other UIM-ABP disciplines this season and has already claimed the European Endurance title and the early advantage in the Runabout GP1 Circuit Pro World Championship. He faces French rivals Vincent Thomas, Alex Barret, Alain Tarzia, Mathis Vincendeau and Stephane Adam in his offshore class, in addition to Germany’s
Frederik Brandao and the Italian quintet of Michele Cadei, Alfio Galiano, Fabio Guarda, Alberto Santini and Emanuela Masala.
The French duo of Cyril Destro and Denis Lorentz will face off against the six-strong Italian strike force of Cesare Taurino, Giuseppe Parilla, Luigi Borzachiello, Pierantonio Rizzardo, Matthias Giraldo and Davide di Maio in Runabout GP2.
Ian Traba Arca flies the Spanish flag in Runabout GP3, where he lines up against Italy’s Juri Tiozzo and Ezio Lucchese.
Neil Perkins, is a seasoned sports journalist and PR professional. Educated at Adams’ Grammar School, Newport, he developed a lifelong passion for sport, including football, cricket, golf, and snooker.
Perkins began his career as a trainee accountant before moving into sports journalism in 1986 with Motoring News, covering events worldwide. In 1990, he founded NDP Publicity Services in Shropshire, specialising in sports public relations. Over three decades, he has worked across 114 countries for governments, sporting federations, royalty, celebrities, and major events such as the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Winter Olympics.
Outside work, he follows Ipswich Town FC, enjoys fishing in Spain and Shropshire, and travels to destinations including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Catalunya, and Mexico.
