The MotoSurf World Championship witnessed a historic moment as an American rider stood on the podium for the first time ever. The Regione Puglia GP of Italy, hosted at the picturesque Porto Turistico di Rodi Garganico harbor in Rodi Garganico, showcased the talents of over ninety racers from fifteen countries.
In the Stock Class, the racing kept everyone on the edge of their seats until the checkered flag. Czech racer Jakub Schejbal led the pack, pursued by Matej Surkos, Damian Kadlec, Jan Travnicek, and Antony Squire, who made an impressive chase from 7th position on the grid. Holding the lead until the final lap and penultimate buoy, Jakub Schejbal unfortunately crashed and dropped to 4th place, clearing the path for Matej Surkos to claim his maiden victory. Damian Kadlec secured 2nd place, while Antony Squire's commendable performance in the finals secured him the first MotoSurf World Championship podium for the United States.
STOCK CLASS OVERALL RESULTS
Matej Surkos expressed his emotions openly, stating, "Wow, this is a significant moment for me. Winning on my birthday makes it even more special. It was an intense battle with Jakub Schejbal, who unfortunately crashed in the final stages of the race. I feel sorry for him."
Antony Squire, the American speedster, had an outstanding weekend in Italy. His impressive performances during the heats earned him a spot in the finals on Sunday, starting from the 7th position on the grid. Throughout the 10-lap final, he displayed a brilliant strategy and executed a remarkable chase, ultimately securing 3rd place. This achievement marks a tremendous success for American motosurfing, with Antony becoming the first American rider to claim a podium finish in this prestigious event.
After his remarkable achievement, Antony shared his thoughts on the podium: "It's simply amazing. I didn't think this would be possible before the final. I am incredibly happy with what I have achieved, but this is just the beginning. There are many more successes to come!"
In the Women's Class, all eyes were on Czech duo Eliska Matoušková and Aneta Stloukalová, who set the pace throughout the weekend. In a closely contested battle, Eliska crossed the finish line in 1st place, further extending her championship lead over Aneta Stloukalova from Samohyl Motor. The fight for 3rd place remained open until the very end, where Eunjin Lee from South Korea secured her first-ever World Championship finish.
The weekend also featured the Electric Challenge class, showcasing boards powered by electric engines. Belgium dominated this class, with Alain Coppens taking the victory ahead of Czech rider Michal Skoček and French racer Julien Raynaud.
In the Juniors class, Team Kuwait's Ramadhan Fares and Hamad Alhaddad dominated the race, finishing in 1st and 2nd places, respectively. Czech rider Sebastian Kostelecky claimed the final podium spot.
In the Junior Girls category, Slovakia proudly celebrated Zara Kubincova's victory, with Emma Strculova securing 2nd place. Czech talent Kristyna Hrbkova completed the trio of the fastest girls.
The MotoSurf World Championship season will continue in Bastad, Sweden, from August 11th to 13th.