Team Abu Dhabis Rashed Al Tayer powered his way to an emphatic victory in the Grand Prix of Kuwait on February 14, 2020 to launch his title challenge in the 2020 UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship.

The Emirati rider observed up his first pole position success in the series 24 hours beforehand by winning the opening Runabout GP1 moto of the season in convincing style on a dramatic day of racing.

Team Abu Dhabis second victory of the day arrived from reigning world freestyle champion Rashid Al Mulla who took the first moto less than a month after breaking his right shoulder in training, having neglected the previous days qualifier because of technical issues.

Surging into the lead from the start, Al Tayer was never challenged as he raced away to win by 12.77 secs from previous years championship runner up, Denmarks Marcus Jorgensen, with Kuwaits four-time world champion, Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq, another 39 secs away in third.

With Saturdays second Runabout GP1 moto to follow, Al Tayer is seeking to repeat his overall Grand Prix triumph at last seasons opening round in Portugal.

Aiming to mark her Team Abu Dhabi debut with a win after securing pole position in Ski Ladies GP1, three-times champion Emma-Nellie Ortendahl had to settle for second place behind fellow-Swede Jonna Borgstrom in the first moto.

Ortendahl looked like taking victory in the second moto after a extraordinary battle with Borgstrom earlier than a collision near the end put both riders out of the race, presenting the win to Frances Jessica Chavanne

There was frustration too for Victory Teams defending Ski GP1 champion Kevin Reiterer who won the first moto by 37.69 secs from Norways Stian Schjetlein but then fell victim to mechanical troubles as Spains Nacho Armillas won moto 2 from Frenchman Mickael Poret.

After a tenth place finish in the first moto, Team Abu Dhabis Salman Al Awadhi finished sixth in the second moto.

Results

Runabout GP1 Moto 1

1. Rashed Al Tayer - (UAE) - 17 laps
2. Marcus Jorgensen - (Den) - +12.77
3. Yousef Al Abdulrazzaq - (KWT) - +51.93
4. Samuel Johansson - (SWE) - +52.35
5. Jeremy Perez - (FRA) - L1
6. Andrzej Wisniewski - (POL) - L1
7. Rasmus Koch Hansen - (DEN) - L1
8. Lino Araujo - (POR) - L1
9. Rashed Aldawas - (KUW) - L1
10. Christophe Agostinho - (POR) - L2

Ski GP1 Moto 1

1.Kevin Reiterer - (AUT) - 12 laps
2. Stian Schjetlein - (NOR) - +37.69
3. Barnabas Szabo - (HUN) - +40.81
4. Mickael Poret - (FRA) - +1m.02
5. Axel Courtois - (FRA) - +1m.11
6. Nacho Armillas - (SPA) - +1m.20
7. Abdulla Alhammadi - (UAE) - +1m.26
8 Oliver Koch Hansen - (DEN) - +1m.31
9. Andrea Guidi - (ITA) - L1
10. Salman Al Awadhi - (UAE) - L1

Ski GP1 Moto 2

1. Nacho Armillas - (SPA) - 11 laps
2. Mickael Poret - (FRA) - +14.84
3. Stian Schjetlein - (NOR) - +19.92
4. Daniel Svae Andersen - (NOR) - +23.29
5. Abdulla Alhammadi - (UAE) - +29.00
6. Salman Al Awadhi - (UAE) - +32.34
7. Barnabas Szabo - (HUN) - +32.86
8. Axel Courtois - (FRA) - +40.42
9. Oliver Koch Hansen - (DEN) - +43.47
10. Ulrik Berntsen - (NOR) - +47.21

Ski Ladies GP1 Moto 1

1. Jonna Borgstrom - (SWE) - 11 laps
2. Emma-Nellie Ortendahl - (SWE) - +1.15
3. Jasmiin Ypraus - (EST) - +17.11
4. Krista Uzare - (LAT) - +19.96
5. Jessica Chavanne - (FRA) - +28.58
6. Estelle Poret - (FRA) - +52.08
7. Sofie Borgstrom - (SWE) - +53.07
8. Lisa Caussin Battagli - (MCO) - +1m.15
9. Kylie Ellmers - (NZ) - +1m.50
10. Virginie Morlaes - (FRA) - +1m.52

Ski Ladies GP1 Moto 2

1. Jessica Chavanne - (FRA) - 10 laps
2. Estelle Poret - (FRA) - +7.02
3. Lisa Caussin Battaglia - (MCO) - +1m.13
4. Joana Graca - (POR) - +1m.19
5. Jasmiin Ypraus - (EST) - +1m.22
6. Virginie Morlaes - (FRA) - +1m.23
7. Janina Johansson - (SWE) - +1m.32
8. Kylie Ellmers - (NZ) - L1