Ibiza Rider Álex Palau Finishes Fourth at Aquabike World Championship After Spectacular Comeback in Olbia

October 20, 2026

Ibiza's Álex Palau narrowly missed out on a world championship podium after finishing fourth overall in the Runabout GP4 category at the Aquabike World Championship in Olbia, Sardinia. The Spanish rider collected 52 points, just four behind the third-placed competitor, after recovering from a controversial disqualification during qualifying to deliver an impressive series of race results.

The championship weekend, held on 17 and 18 October, tested Palau's ability to respond under pressure. Despite losing the starting position he had earned on the water, he improved his results across all three races and finished with a second place in the final heat.

Qualifying Disqualification Changes Palau's Race Strategy

Palau began the weekend strongly, recording the fifth-fastest time in the pole-position session. That result would have given him access to the green buoy, reserved for the five fastest riders and associated with a more favourable course.

However, after the session, officials disqualified him for not remaining beside his watercraft during the technical inspection.

According to Palau, he had left the watercraft in the designated verification area so that the officials could check its legality before leaving with his team to support another Spanish competitor. He disagreed with the decision, arguing that the watercraft had been made available for inspection, although he accepted the ruling.

The disqualification cost him his qualifying position and meant he had to start the first race from the back, using the red buoy and a longer route.

A Race-by-Race Comeback

Rather than allowing the setback to derail his weekend, Palau worked his way through the field in each race.

His first outing ended with a seventh-place finish, a significant recovery given that he had started from the last position.

He improved again in the second race, crossing the finish line fifth and confirming that he could compete with the leading riders despite the difficult start.

His strongest performance came in the third and final race. Palau increased his pace, closed the gap to the competitors ahead and maintained the pressure through the closing stages.

In a dramatic finish, he made a decisive overtaking move in the final lap, reaching second place in the race. The result completed a clear progression across the weekend: seventh, fifth and second.

Just Four Points Short of the World Championship Podium

Palau's three race results gave him 52 points and fourth place in the overall Runabout GP4 standings.

The third-placed rider finished on 56 points, leaving the Ibiza competitor only four points away from a world championship podium.

The final result highlights the impact that the qualifying disqualification had on Palau's starting position, although his overall classification was determined by the points accumulated across the championship races.

His performance also earned recognition from fellow competitors. Vanio, who finished second overall, approached Palau after the racing to congratulate him on his comeback and performance.

“This Fourth Place Feels Like Gold”

Reflecting on the weekend, Palau expressed frustration about the qualifying decision but said he was proud of how he responded during the races.

He maintained that he had complied with the technical inspection process by leaving his watercraft available to officials, while making clear that he disagreed with the disqualification.

The rider also highlighted his physical condition and his ability to increase his pace in the final stages of the races, rather than fading as fatigue set in.

Despite narrowly missing the podium, Palau said he was more than satisfied with his fourth-place finish, describing the result as one that “feels like gold” after reviewing the difficulties he faced throughout the weekend.

A Strong Result for Ibiza's Aquabike Scene

Palau leaves Olbia with fourth place in the world championship standings, a second-place finish in the final race and valuable experience gained under difficult competitive circumstances.

Although the podium remained just out of reach, his progression across the three races demonstrated his ability to recover from a setback and challenge the leading riders.

For the Ibiza competitor, the result offers encouragement for future international appearances and reinforces his position among the contenders in the Runabout GP4 category.

POSTED BY IBIZA ONE STOP

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