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The opening round of the 2026 UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship concluded in Shanghai with four riders emerging as Grand Prix winners after two days of intense competition.
With the rain finally easing for the final racing sessions, Gyorgy Kasza, Quinten Bossche, Jessica Chavanne and Rashid Al Mulla secured the top honours in their respective categories and head to the next round in Olbia, Italy, with strong positions in the Championship standings.
In Runabout GP1, Gyorgy Kasza produced an outstanding final Moto to complete a perfect weekend. The Hungarian immediately established himself at the front and gradually increased his advantage over Francois Medori. While Kasza disappeared into the distance, the closest battle developed behind him, with Samuel Johansson, Robin Laforge, Jeremy Perez and Pierre-Francois Savelli separated by only a few seconds.
None of the chasing riders could make a decisive move, leaving Kasza to take a commanding victory, 32.474 seconds ahead of Medori and more than a minute clear of Johansson. Three Moto victories gave Kasza the maximum Grand Prix score and an early advantage in his bid for a maiden World Championship. Medori finished the weekend second overall on 64 points, with Johansson narrowly securing third on 58, ahead of Perez on 56.
Quinten Bossche once again proved unbeatable in Ski GP1. The Belgian took control immediately and built an advantage that reached almost 30 seconds after five laps. Behind him, Jeremy Poret and Valentin Dardillat fought closely for second and third, while Soshi Sato’s promising start ended with a mechanical problem that forced him out of the race.
Bossche eventually crossed the finish line 48.575 seconds ahead of Poret, completing a clean sweep of the weekend and collecting all 75 available points. Poret took second overall in Shanghai, with Dardillat completing the Grand Prix podium.
The Ski Ladies GP1 final saw another strong display from Jessica Chavanne. She led from the opening lap and remained in control despite choosing the more challenging outside split. Estelle Poret initially followed closely but a fall dropped the World Champion down the order, allowing Benedicte Drange to move into second.
Jonna Borgstrom eventually inherited third after Emy Garcia was handed a 30-second penalty for an anticipated start. Chavanne comfortably secured the Moto win by 7.247 seconds, completing her two-Moto winning run and taking the Grand Prix with 72 points. Poret finished second overall on 62, while Jasmiin Ypraus claimed third on her return to China.
In Freestyle, defending World Champion Roberto Mariani opened with a spectacular series of five consecutive backflips before adding 360s and reverse-spins to his routine. Aquabike newcomer Demi Morgan followed with an energetic performance that earned 187 points, already enough to put the British rider on the Grand Prix podium.
The highest score of the session came from Rashid Al Mulla, whose technically demanding routine earned 223 points and secured the Moto victory. Combined with his earlier success, the result handed Al Mulla the overall Grand Prix of Shanghai-China title, repeating his previous Chinese Grand Prix triumph from 2019.
Morgan made an immediate impact on her Aquabike debut by taking second overall, while Mariani finished third. The World Champion will now look to respond at the next round in Olbia, Italy, a venue where he secured the World Championship last season.
The 2026 UIM-ABP Aquabike World Championship now moves to Europe, with the battle for the titles continuing in Olbia.
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