Milan, Italy - Sunday, June 8, 2014 - It all started for a young driver from Milan, Italy in the paddock in Wuxi, China in the late summer of 1996 and now over 150 Grand Prix's later Francesco Cantando of the Motorglass F1 Team can claim he is a young "old man" of the sport of UIM F1 H2O World Championship racing in his 19 season at the ripe old age of 39 years old.
The very talented Cantando with new boats and a new sponsor as part of a new package with Motorglass.it of Italy is being featured at this weekends "Aquabike Music Festival" at the world famous Idroscalo water complex on the east side of the city for the second round of the UIM-ABP Aquabike Class Pro World Championship.
"It's great to have had a chance to introduce my team and sponsor to so many new race fans here in my hometown," said Francesco. "We are excited to return the to the F1 H2O Championship series and this is a great 'sister' event to take part in as a vender as well."
Francesco, started the 2014 UIM F1 H2O World Championship with a brilliant fourth place position, just missing his 43 career podium finish by a small margin off the waters of Doha Bay at the annual Grand Prix of Qatar back in mid-March.
"We were hoping for a podium," said Francesco. "We came close and feel we can be there at the next race as we have been putting forward a great package at the next event," said Cantando.
"I have a loyal family and crew that have been with me since I was a young 20 year old 19 years ago. It's scarey, it seemed like yesterday and today I'm almost 40 years old. I have a lovely wife and three children and am still fighting as hard as ever for a world title."
"The people at Motorglass.it have been really great and supportive and are enjoying this sponsorship opportunity as much as I am. We are a true team on and off the water and I will do my best to make sure they get a full effort from me every time I go out on the race circuit this season."
Also attending this weekend activities is 1992 F1 H2O World Champion Fabrizio Bocca who has in the past logistically put together racing events in Italy, along with his wife Elisa, as they came to enjoy the racing performances that are taking place on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
"It's a blast to see all my friends and marvel at the show that H20 Racing Powerboat Promotions are putting on here in Milan," said Fabrizio. "I've known Nicolo di San Germano and his family a long time and I feel they are putting forth a great series of events that his son's Casimiro and Raimondo are carrying forward for the future decades to come."
Meanwhile, Francesco "Franz" Cantando can look forward to the second stage of the UIM F1 H2O season shortly and with that his opportunity to do something he came so close to accomplishing back in 2000, 2001 and 2004 when he was runner-up, win his first world title and join Renato Molinari, Fabrizio Bocca, Guido Cappellini and Alex Carella and become an Italian UIM F1 H2O World Champion.
Follow the championship by going to the official website of the tour at www.f1h2o.com.
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