Waiting for the exciting 'wave splitting' scenes on Thi Nai lagoon

At 10:30 a.m. this morning (March 23), the 2024 UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship officially kicked off at Thi Nai Lagoon (Quy Nhon City), with the first competition being the ranking of starting positions in 4 categories. Before entering the first race, the racers had two days of free practice to get used to the weather and track conditions. 55 racers competing According to Mr. Paolo di San Germano - representative of Aquabike Promotion (the race organizer), there are a total of 55 racers from 26 countries around the world registered to participate in the World Aquabike Championship in 4 categories. Of which, 20 racers participate in the Runabout GP1 category; 21 racers compete in the Ski Division GP1 category; 11 racers compete in the Ski Ladies GP1 category and 3 racers compete in the Freestyle category. The 2024 Grand Prix of Binh Dinh takes place in Thi Nai lagoon, the opening stage of the 2024 Grand Prix of the World Jet Ski Championship. In the coming days, Vietnamese people as well as international visitors will witness the most exciting jet ski and water motorboat races taking place in Quy Nhon. We hope to develop this sport in Vietnam for many years to come. According to the reporter's records, to prepare for the 2024 Grand Prix of Binh Dinh, racers were present at the competition area to practice and get acquainted with the racetrack. "Super" jet skis with engine sounds roaring in Thi Nai lagoon. “I have been training very hard for the past few months,” said Francois Medori, 2023 World Jet Ski Champion (Runabout GP1). “I am in good shape and ready for this race. I hope to be on the podium if everything goes well. However, it may not be easy to achieve that goal, because the best Jet Ski riders in the world are here, especially Marcus Jorgensen who is back and many other riders who did not race last year.”

Racers gather in the technical area to test the engine and get familiar with the track. Photo: NGUYEN DUNG

After completing the technical inspection, Mickael Poret, the winner of the Ski GP1 World Watercraft Championship in 2023, registered and took his vehicle to the Thi Nai lagoon to test the engine and get acquainted with the track and weather conditions here. The French racer said: “After two days of heavy rain and strong winds, today (March 22) the weather is better. However, even if the weather in the coming days is rainy and windy, we still have to fight. Because that is the type of weather that aquabike racers love. On the other hand, we are the best racers in the world and hope that the race will take place in such unusual weather conditions, to show everyone that our sport is a great sport.”

Racers test the engine and get acquainted with the track at Thi Nai lagoon on the morning of March 22. Photo: NGUYEN DUNG

The “beauties” on the racetrack Among the 55 athletes participating in the tournament, there are 11 female racers, they are the “beauties” contributing to an interesting and attractive race. Estiona racer - Jasmiin Ypraus is 1 of 11 beautiful women participating in the World Jet Ski Championship in the Ski Ladies GP1 category. She shared: “On my second return to Quy Nhon to participate in the race, I feel everything here is quite familiar. Before that, at the beginning of this year, I drove a jet ski quickly on the surface of Thi Nai lagoon in the reality TV show “Radiating passion Aquabike”. My current feeling is very excited and ready for the race. The preparation here is extremely wonderful. The race track in Thi Nai lagoon is ideal in very clear water conditions, waves and wind at stable intensity. I hope everyone will come to watch the race, because I believe that the racers will not disappoint everyone through extremely eye-catching and classy rounds”. Also participating in the Ski Ladies GP1 category, Benedicte Drange - the Norwegian “beauty” said that she has prepared carefully, ready for the upcoming competition. Before coming to Vietnam to compete, I have studied and become familiar with jet skis for 3 years. I believe I will win the highest position in this race category. Meanwhile, racer Joana Graca from Portugal is also very excited for the race. This is the racer who won the 11th World Jet Ski Championship in 2017. “This race, including the race in Quy Nhon, is very important to me, because this is the premise for me to prepare for the next races and conquer the world championship trophy once again,” said Joana Graca.

Female racer Joana Graca from Portugal is excited before the race. Photo: LX

After reviewing the weather and surveying the competition area, Mr. Raimondo di San Germano, CEO of Aquabike Promotion, was satisfied that the Grand Prix of Binh Dinh 2024 is one of the races with a beautiful race track, clear blue sea water, and excellent water surface and depth standards for the racers to show their talents.

The ABP Aquabike World Championship (UIM) has the following categories: Runabout GP1 (for professional or experienced racers in this category; using two-seat jet skis, speeds up to 170 km/h). Ski Division GP1 and Ski Ladies GP1 (for women only, using single-seat jet skis; speeds up to 130 km/h). Freestyle (a water sport performance in which racers perform complex movements and techniques on the water surface through jumping, spinning, turning, crossing the water and other risky movements). For the race in Binh Dinh, taking place from March 22 to 24, at Thi Nai lagoon (Quy Nhon city), racers participate in the Circuit category, for both Runabout GP1 and Ski GP1. Racers compete on a track with many buoys, including left and right turns, auxiliary tracks and penalty buoys. At the end of the race, the organizer will have 21 prestigious trophies awarded to racers in all the above competition categories.

Aquabike Promotion has specially organized the Parallel Slalom competition in Binh Dinh, a special format that only takes place in a few Grand Prix. The attraction of this format is the competition of the best racers in 3 categories in the qualifying round (Pole Position): Top 8 Runabout GP1, top 8 Ski Division GP1 and top 4 or top 6 Ski Ladies GP1. Each category will be divided into pairs to be eliminated directly into the semi-finals and finals. The tracks are arranged in parallel, each pair starts at the same time and passes the same buoys. The racer with the fastest speed and reaches the finish line first will win.

Baobinhdinh.vn

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