Today, the final of the F2 Water Formula World Championship took place at the Klaipėda Cruise Ship Terminal in the harbour shipping channel. Nineteen professional watercraft pilots from all over the world, including Edgaras Riabko from Lithuania, were at the starting line. After two qualifying rounds, he failed to qualify for the third round and could only start today's final from eleventh position. The starting position for the final is very important for the pilots, as the number one position allows the first to reach the yellow buoy, beyond which the overtakes start, and the one in front to sail in flat water, while the one behind it finds it very difficult to overtake the leader. In first position in today's final was yesterday's leader Giancomo Sacchi representing Monaco.
Only yesterday Edgaras Riabko shared his plans to start today with the lightest propeller, which would allow him to reach the maximum speed at the start, but this time the pilot was not so successful and Riabko finished in 11th place in the event. Unfortunately, Riabko did not manage to score any points. However, there are still three rounds left in this World Championship, so Lithuania still has a chance to climb the podium.
After a fierce 45-minute race, Rashed Al Qemzi of Abu Dhabi, already three times F2 Water Formula World Champion, finished the championship as number one. Colin Jelf of Great Britain came second and Stephan Arand of Estonia was third.
"It was a good start from fourth position and my goal was to push forward and avoid collisions. Once I got ahead, I tried very hard to keep my position and gave everything to finish first. My goal is to become world champion for the fourth time, and that's what I'll be aiming for in the next three rounds. I am grateful to my team, who have been a big part of my victories," said first place winner Rashed Al Qemzi after the race.
This World Championship has three more rounds in Italy and Portugal. The next round of the F2 Water Formula World Championship will take place in Italy from 1-3 September.
