Dito Ariotedjo, Minister of Youth and Sports
Jakarta, IO – Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia Dito Ariotedjo did not hesitate to take a jet ski at high speed around the F1Powerboat 2024 circuit, at Mulia Raja Napitupulu Harbor, Balige, Toba Regency, North Sumatra Sunday 3 March.
Dito led the lap parade of 26 racers who followed behind him at the Aquabike National Championship, as part of the 2024 F1 Powerboat on Lake Toba.
Wearing an all-black t-shirt and life vest, the Minister of Youth and Sports looked very adept at riding a two-tone red and black jet ski provided by the committee, bearing Number 28.
Occasionally Dito circled around, not far from the pier while adjusting the settings of his jet ski. Then he appeared to step on the gas and immediately zoomed away. Then the lap parade of participants in the 2024 Menpora Cup Aquabike National Championship began. Dito gave a big smile to the people who had packed the viewing spots.
Since he was a teenager, Dito has been familiar with water racing vehicles. “Exciting, really exciting, hopefully the race will run smoothly,” said Dito after leading the parade lap, as quoted on the Kemenpora website.
Dito Ariotedjo ensured that the implementation of the 2024 Indonesian Menpora Cup National Aquabike Series Championship on Lake Toba and the establishment of the Aquabike Academy would stand as a form of the government’s commitment to ensure the birth of Indonesian racers for the next Aquabike and F1Powerboat series.
“So, we are holding this Aquabike National Championship together with the Central Indonesian Motor Association (IMI), as a form of commitment, where for the next Aquabike series we will ensure there are racers from Indonesia,”.
“Thank God, today the Aquabike National Championship was attended by 26 participants and I think this is a very good start, even though it was limited, it will still be maximized. Next year, both Injourney and IMI will hold the Aquabike National Championship in various regions and of course we support this because we have committed that ‘Indonesia will be hosting the Aquabike world championship’, Dito vowed.
“We have an obligation to prepare prospective racers. H2O Racing also has the same commitment to establishing an Aquabike Academy in Toba which will later train Indonesian racers so they can race powerboats and of course Aquabikes. Hopefully this year it can start.”
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“I have also coordinated an effort to pursue talent, scouting around, and it turns out that most F1 Powerboat racers can basically go karting, pilot jet fighters or have a track record in motocross, so it will be easier. Maybe later, together with Central IMI, we will formulate how talent scouting will work, of course with a commitment with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries to make Lake Toba an integrated area and focus on water sports. I forecast that with the development of infrastructure, implementation will definitely sharpen, from year to year.”
The implementation of the Menpora Cup Aquabike Indonesian Championship Lake Toba Series 2024, which was attended by 26 participants from Indonesia, hosted two categories, namely, Parallel Slalom Runabout GP4 and Endurance Runabout GP2. (rp)