UIM Aquabike Grand Prix of France 2011 heat one

by Aquabike.net on 5 Jun 2011 The UIM Aquakbike Grand Prix of France saw Ghisonaccia’s local hero Francois Medori display for his home crowd the thrilling win that they were looking for. Medori stormed to his victory in Runabout F1, on an afternoon of stunning racing which French riders dominating and winning all the opening heats.

It turned out to be a family affair in Ski Division F1,for the Poret brothers with the World Championship leader Jeremy Poret leading his older brother Mickael. Jean-Baptiste Botti prevented a Poret one-two-three by finishing ahead of the youngest brother of the Poret racing dynasty, Morgan.

There was only ever going to be one winner in Ski Ladies F1, with a determined Julie Bulteau out to get her Championship lead back, leading from the start to win comfortably ahead of Pija Sumer, with her arch-rival Stefania Balzer coming home in third place.

Romain Stampers struck a psychological blow in the Freestyle show taking his third straight heat-win over the flamboyant Italian, Valerio Calderoni.

For the second Grand Prix weekend in a row, heat 1 of Runabout F1 turned into a nightmare for both Cyrille Lemoine and Franky Zapata; Lemoine forced to come back to shore on the opening lap with a problem - but rejoining the race to finish down in eighth place but salvaging valuable points - with Zapata breaking down and stopping on lap nine after leading from the start.

Bulteau dominated the day in Ski Ladies, winning the morning’s qualifying session and from pole position completed her third flag-to-finish win of the year to take the 10-lap race by eight seconds from Sumer.

Despite pressing hard, Sumer made no impression on the race leader, instead had to hold of the challenge from Balzer, who by mid-race had the gap down to three seconds, but that was as close as she got, finishing in third with Patty Gutierrez in fourth.

Ski Division F1 produced a stunning race, with race-winner Jeremy Poret having to work hard and come from behind to take the win, brother Mickael leading for five laps with Spain’s Nachete Armillas running in second place.

The Championship leader made his move on lap five with a stunning pass on the alternate-track on Armillas, pulling off the same move on his brother a lap later to take the lead.

Armillas’ race ended on lap ten, leaving Mickael Poret to fend off a frantic three-lap charge by Jean-Baptiste Botti, missing out on second spot by under two seconds. Morgan Poret produced his best result of the year to take fourth place ahead of Christopher Courtois with Emanuele Balzer completing the top six.

In Runabout F1 Zapata looked to be home and dry after a perfect start and easing out to an eight second lead by lap eight, but then suddenly stopping halfway round lap nine leaving Medori out front and over 30 seconds clear of Italy’s Mattia Fracasso.

Medori was able to enjoy the remainder of the race, going on to take the chequered flag and win by 28 seconds, completing the 17 laps in 27mins 43.77secs. Jeremy Perez finished a comfortable third, with Didier Chabert leading home Lorenzo Benaglia and Pablo Lindner.
 
Sunday 5, June:

11.00/13.00  Warm Up
15.00/15.30  Ski Ladies F1, heat two
15.30/16.00  Ski Division F1, heat two
16.00/16.30  Freestyle, heat two
16.30/17.00  Runabout F1, heat Event website