Women’s Motocross: Lancelot heads FIM series to first Portuguese round
May 6, 2009 by jane
Filed under Action, Motocross, Motorcycle, Pretty Sporty
FUNCHAL (PORTUGAL), 6 May 2009 – Following a great season opener in Sevlievo, Bulgaria, on April 5, the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship collective will be back into the saddle this weekend as defending Champion Livia Lancelot leads the standings ahead of Steffi Laier and Ashley Fiolek.
Kawasaki Racing Team’s Lancelot won a hard fought opening round in Bulgaria where she battled tooth and nail with rival Laier of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Winning one moto each, Lancelot eventually wrapped up the overall but the two are currently level in points in the Championship standings.
Being this the maiden Portuguese visit of the popular Women’s series, the knowledge of the race track will be no help for the WMX riders.
So far LS Motors Honda’s Fiolek had to adapt to all the FIM World Championship courses which she had never seen before since she’s based in the U.S. Nevertheless Fiolek, who is now third in the Championship, could get to grips with all straight away and it will be interesting to see if she can exploit this capacity in Agueda as well.
Elin Mann and Maria Franke complete the top five ahead of Veenstra with the top six riders being spread in just 17 points.
Suzuki fellow riders Kane and Papenmeier struggled in Bulgaria but they are expected to storm into the top five this weekend.
WMX series debutant Tarah Gieger, the first woman to have ever taken part in an FIM Motocross of Nations in 2007, now sits in ninth ahead of youngster Fontanesi.
Collecting just three points in Sevlievo, Buildbase CCM Racing’s Dunlop is heading to Agueda with higher ambitions.
