Rashid Hopes French Endurance Triumph can Inspire World Aquabike Success in Portugal

Rashid Al Tayer hopes that one world championship triumph with Team Abu Dhabi can help inspire him to another in Portugal this weekend.

The Emirati has set his sights on victory in the Runabout GP1 category, the blue ribband event of the UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship, which launches its 2019 season in Portimao tomorrow (Friday).

It comes just nine days after Al Tayer celebrated victory with Team Abu Dhabi in the 24 Hours of Rouen in France, part of the world F2 powerboat endurance championship.

It was great to be part of that success, and now Im looking forward to returning to jetski racing in Portugal, he said. Ive been preparing for the start of the new season for four months.

Weve built a completely new jet ski with a new engine, and I want to make a winning start to the championship. But I need to save the bike for the next round because my target this season is to win the world title.

Team Abu Dhabi is also represented in Portimao by reigning UIM-ABP Aquabike freestyle champion Rashed Al Mulla, unbeaten in the last six Grand Prix, and Salman AlAwadhi in the Ski Division GP1.

Portimao is currently a major focus of attention for the team which is based at Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club. Next weekend reigning UIM F1H2O world team champions Shaun Torrente and Thani Al Qemzi begin the defence of their title there while Mohamed AlMehairbi and Rashed AlRemeithi will be chasing victory in the F4-S Trophy.