AUSTRIAN ACE KEVIN REITERER WINS UIM-ABP AQUABIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Monday, 17 December: Austria’s Kevin Reiterer became the UIM-ABP Aquabike SKI GP1 World Champion for the second time in his career after winning the final round of the season on Khalid Lagoon at the Grand Prix of Sharjah in the UAE last weekend. Reiterer headed into the final event of the year with a 14 point advantage over the only title challenger left in it, French rival Raphael Maurin, but was both master and commander and in a class of his own winning all three Motos to seal a third Grand Prix of Sharjah title and regain the world title he won there in 2015. “My Ski worked amazing all weekend and being with a team that is in its first year and winning the championship with them is a great achievement,” he said. “To get the Ski working the way I like it there are so many pieces in the puzzle but when they all fit it is a pleasure just to be out there.” Reiterer signed with Victory Team at the beginning of the year picking up his first Moto win for them at the season-opener in Gallipoli but conceded the overall victory to Maurin, then hit back at the next round in Olbia winning both Motos and a first UIM-ABP GP title for the team.
In Sharjah he was in devastating form and simply annihilated a world class field of 19 and the outcome in all three Motos was never in doubt. “This is only the beginning and we are looking forward to more success.” said Reiterer. “Having a team behind me that manages everything to do with the Ski and make the adjustments I ask for means I can just turn up and race.” For Victory it is their 25th World Title and their first everChampionship in the new Aquabike Division. Reiterer reclaimed his World Title from 2015 with convincing fashion.
UIM-ABP Grand Prix of Sharjah – overall
Ski GP1: 1. 90 Kevin Reiterer (aut) – 75pts, 2. 44 Raphael Maurin (fra) – 56pts, 3. Anders Keller (den) – 40pts
UIM-ABP World Championship
Ski GP1: 1. 90 Kevin Reiterer (aut) – 170pts, 2. 44 Raphael Maurin (fra) – 137pts, 3. 98 Quinten Bossche (bel) – 91pts
