MEDIA INFORMATION
2026 UIM-ABP World Aquabike Championship
SUCCESS OF RISING YOUNG TALENT IN 2025 BODES WELL FOR A THRILLING 2026 SEASON
Wednesday, February 4: The success of both the 2025 UIM-ABP World and European Continental Aquabike Championships and the plethora of young talent rising through the ranks bodes well for a thrilling season of racing in 2026.
While Aquabike Promotion works to confirm the final dates for the international calendars, we can look back at some of the rising stars and stand-out performances from 2025 and new names to watch out for this year.
While established stars like François Medori, Estelle Poret and Roberto Mariani controlled proceedings in three of the established World Championship categories, there was a breakthrough world title for Dane Oliver Koch Hansen in Ski Division GP1. The 22-year-old was a model of consistency throughout the season to secure a first world title by 20 points from veteran Jéremy Poret.
Estonia is a breeding ground for young aquabiking talent: Mattias Reinass and Karl Joosep Steinberg took the top two places in Ski Division GP2 and Ander Hubert Lauri finished as runner-up to Baptiste Calmels in Ski Division GP4. Fellow countryman Mattias Siimann earned the Runabout GP2 title.
The three classes in the Junior World Championship were well supported. Hungary’s Leo Kete secured victories in all three Motos on home waters to win the Ski Junior GP3.3 crown, Belgian Milo Beernout prevailed in Ski Junior GP3.2 and talented young Finn Jose Vainio topped the charts in Runabout GP4 Juniors. Kete also won all nine European Championship Motos on his way to another Ski Junior GP3.3 title.
In the UIM-ABP European Continental Aquabike Championship, Dutchman Daan Hoeke held off the Estonian trio of Steinberg and Marlon and Marten Tiik to take Ski Division GP2 honours. Young Rihard Leinsalu capped a wonderful season for Estonian riders with the European Runabout GP4 Junior crown.
Breakthrough success also came for Lithuania with Grantas Gurkšnys taking the Runabout GP4 crown. He was also runner-up in the Ski Division GP4 category. Young Italian Francesco Mariani wasn’t to be denied a trophy either: he won the European Ski Junior GP4 title.
But, perhaps, the greatest feat of the 2025 season by a young rookie was the performance of 16-year-old Jakarta-based student Boanerges Ratag, who claimed five Moto podium finishes to stun his rivals and win the UIM-ABP World Aquabike Endurance Championship on Indonesia’s Lake Toba.
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