Second Place for KTM's Steffi Laier in Opening GP

Steffi Laier of Germany launched her bid for supremacy in the second edition of the women's MX world championship in Bulgaria on Sunday with a 1-2 result for second overall and shared championship points.

It is Steffi's first season as a fully fledged factory rider with the Red Bull Factory Racing Team and follows on from her second overall in the first edition of the WMX championships in 2008 as a KTM-supported rider.

 

Despite her podium place, Laier was disappointed to have to concede victory to arch rival Livia Lancelot, the reigning champion. Like Lancelot she wrapped up the weekend with one victory and one second place in the two motos, thus setting the tone for what will be a hard fought battle in the 2009 season. Women this year race seven GPs, one more than the 2008 calendar.

 

Laier was prevented from competing in the first GP at the Sevlievo circuit last year because of a shoulder injury but she then had an impressive run of victories, illustrating she is clearly one of the top women riders in the world. She started impressively in the first moto on Saturday on the hard packed Bulgarian circuit in a race that was made more difficult because it was run at 6:00 p.m. when the sun was low, affecting the riders' visibility. She nevertheless rode a masterly tactical race, consolidating her second place until she was ready to make a move on the race leader in the final stages. The second moto, run on Sunday morning proved more of a trial as the German rider had to battle with arm pump in the opening stages.

 

"It happened in the first two to three laps and that made me a bit nervous," she said of the arm pump problem. "Then things started to go better for me after the fourth lap but by then it was too late to make up the distance between me and Livia." The women next take to the track on May 10 at the Agueda circuit in Portugal and between now and then Steffi says she will work on her speed in her opening laps."

 

Women's results, round 1 of 7

1. Livia Lancelot, France, Kawasaki, 22-25—47

2. Steffi Laier, Germany, KTM 25-22—47

3. Ashley Fiolek, USA, Honda, 20-20—40

4. Erin Mann, Sweden, KTM, 16-18—34

5. Maria Franke, Germany,Kawasaki, 18-13—31

 

Championship standings

1. Livia Lancelot, France, Kawasaki, 47

2. Steffi Laier, Germany, KTM 47

3. Ashley Fiolek, USA, Honda, 40

4. Erin Mann, Sweden, KTM, 34

5. Maria Franke, Germany, Kawasaki, 31