PAPENMEIER WINS WMX SEASON OPENER AT TRENTINO.
The circuit of Pietramurata in Trentino region of Italy played host to many races this weekend from premier World Championship classes MXGP and MX2 to European Championship racing, however some of the most interesting action was from the first round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship. Nearly 50 women entered this weekend’s racing filling the class with riders both new and old to the championship. Taking the overall victory was the familiar face of the #423, Larissa Papenmeier.
Papenmeier has been a part of the Women’s Motocross World Championship since the inception of the series in 2008. Larissa became the first Women’s World Championship individual race winner 10 years ago and today claimed her first overall win since 2010.
On Saturday Nancy van de Ven was the early race leader but Papenmeier took the spot from the Dutch rider on lap four. Later on Papenmeier had to hold off the charges of the defending and 5 time world champion MXFONTARACING Yamaha’s Kiara Fontanesi.
Fontanesi started the race in 10th position but after just one lap made her way to 5th, in the remaining 9 laps she worked her way up to the back wheel of Papenmeier. However on the last lap Fontanesi pushed hard and lost the front end of her Yamaha allowing Papenmeier room to breathe as van de Ven and KTM Silver Action’s Amandine Verstappen took over second and third with Fontanesi crossing the line in 4th.
Today’s race 2 started with a holeshot from Verstappen over the #131 of Line Dam and Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Courtney Duncan. Fontanesi again suffered a bad start completing the first lap in 9th while Duncan took the lead from Verstappen.
Duncan took full advantage of her top five start and early lead leaving Verstappen to battle with Papenmeier and Fontanesi. On lap 5 Papenmeier took over second from Verstappen who was also passed by Fontanesi and van de Ven before the finish.
Duncan took the race win but Papenmeier claimed the overall with Duncan, Fontanesi, and van de Ven all tied for second with 40 points. Race 2’s result decided the podium and left van de Ven 4th.
WMX Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), 25:09.220; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:14.335; 3. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), +0:15.993; 4. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:23.100; 5. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), +0:23.838; 6. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Yamaha), +0:39.492; 7. Emelie Dahl (SWE, Yamaha), +0:50.951; 8. Natalie Kane (IRL, Honda), +0:52.187; 9. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), +1:25.191; 10. Line Dam (DEN, Honda), +1:26.227.
WMX Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Yamaha), 25:03.913; 2. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:20.318; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), +0:24.899; 4. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:28.690; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), +0:30.198; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +1:06.276; 7. Natalie Kane (IRL, Honda), +1:07.326; 8. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), +1:09.206; 9. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), +1:27.094; 10. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:32.477.
WMX Overall Top Ten: 1. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 45 points; 2. Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 40 p.; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 40 p.; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 36 p.; 6. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 29 p.; 7. Natalie Kane (IRL, HON), 27 p.; 8. Emelie Dahl (SWE, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), 22 p.
WMX Championship Top Ten: 1. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 45 points; 2. Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 40 p.; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 40 p.; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 36 p.; 6. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 29 p.; 7. Natalie Kane (IRL, HON), 27 p.; 8. Emelie Dahl (SWE, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 22 p.; 10. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), 22 p.
WMX Manufacturers: 1. Yamaha, 47 points; 2. Suzuki, 45 p.; 3. KTM, 36 p.; 4. Honda, 27 p.; 5. Kawasaki, 1 p.
Text/Bild: Youthstream