UIM ABP Aquabike Offshore Grand Prix of Puglia: Highlights
UIM ABP Aquabike Offshore Grand Prix of Puglia: Highlights
UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship 2025 – Grand Prix of Puglia - Highlights
After a seven-year absence, the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship returns to Torre dell'Orso, Puglia, for an exhilarating three-year series of world-class racing. The Grand Prix of Puglia brings two days of breathtaking offshore competition on the azure waters of southern Italy - a spectacle of speed, skill, and endurance.
Classes, Circuits, and Challenges
The 2025 competition features three categories - Runabout GP1, GP2, and GP3 - all racing together in shared motos for maximum intensity. Over the weekend, riders tackle 35-40 laps of a 4.2 km offshore circuit, alternating directions to test their versatility. Each moto lasts about 90 minutes, combining endurance, precision, and sheer willpower.
The event opens with a classic Le Mans-style start, where competitors sprint from the beach to their jet skis at the drop of the green flag - a dramatic, fan-favorite tradition. Between motos, riders have seven minutes to refuel, reset, and strategize.
Fierce Competition and Unforgettable Moments
In the fiercely contested GP1 category, French champion François Midori dominated the standings, followed closely by compatriots Alex Bure and Mathias Van Sando, while Alain Tarzia impressed with his aggressive, tactical riding. International contenders like Friedrich Brandau (Germany) and Italians Emanuele Massala and Michele Caddei pushed hard for podium spots.
With four motos, unpredictable conditions, and non-stop drama, Midori ultimately clinched victory and the World Championship title, proving once again why the Grand Prix of Puglia is one of the most thrilling stops on the Aquabike calendar.