Laier takes close win

Stephanie Laier made it two out of two as she collected the surprising victory at the sixth round of the FIM Women’s World Championship in Slovenia. The German topped the podium from Chiara Fontanesi and the Sarholz KTM rider Larissa Papenmeier as the duo complete also the Championship’s top three behind the leader Laier. KTM Red Bull Teka Factory Team rider Steffi Laier holeshot the first race of the day, on the windy although sunny Orehova Vas circuit. Just behind though the Italian Fontanesi wasn’t going to let her win that easy. Both of them battling it out for the 20 minute plus two lap race. The Yamaha rider despite having the fastest lap time in race one of 1:55:720 tried to make a pass on the fourth lap but the smooth German passed her back directly not letting Chiara have the lead for more than 2 laps. Larissa Papenmeier settled for 15 seconds behind in third position, staying consistent and not to make a mistake which could cost precious points for the championship. Shirley Verkade started of the first race in fourth position actually ending up 10th after making a little fault. The Suzuki machine of Anne Borchers took Verkades 4th position followed by the Dutch rider Marielle de Mol in 5th. In race two the battled carried on just like in the first. This time it was the feisty Italian playing hard to get as she holeshot and led for 12 laps. Stephanie not far behind throughout the race passed Chiara on the last corner of the thirteen lap moto. The factory KTM taking the overall victory by 00.088 seconds and keeping a strong 15 point lead from the 17 year old. Again the KTM rider Papenmeier took the third position in front of the young Venezuelan rider Maria Lorca who did not finish the first moto. Following Lorca over the Finish line was the Honda rider Britt van de Wekken after her ninth place finish in race one her and Maria showed they are back in business and ready for the next round of the FIM Women’s World Championship in France. Steffi Laier “Yeah both of my starts were very good, I got two times the holeshot. In the two races I suffered at the beginning because I couldn’t find my rhythm. The track was pretty good and it was also getting rougher and rougher. But then after ten minutes I found my rhythm and then I saw I could close the gap in both races. In the last ten minutes I took the lead. So in France I don’t have to make myself stress so much.” Chiara Fontanesi “I tried to do my best in the race, I had good rhythm but by the end I felt a little bit tired. The track was very bumpy; maybe I was going too fast for my possibility, so I couldn’t turn inside. I went outside and Steffi passed me. I am happy to get second place because it’s not bad to get podium.” Larissa Papenmeier “I had a great weekend, I was happy with the way I was riding. I was consistent and had two great starts which led to my 3rd place on the podium.” WMX Race 1: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 25:09.070; ; 2. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:13.475; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, KTM), +0:15.709; 4. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:14.242; 5. Marielle De Mol (NED, TM), +1:31.055; 6. Joanna Miller (POL, KTM), +1:32.417; 7. Sara Pettersson (SWE, KTM), +1:33.067; 8. Justine Charroux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:41.397; 9. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), +2:01.693; 10. Shirley Verkade (NED, KTM), +2:06.109; WMX Race 2: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 25:11.254; ; 2. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:00.088; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, KTM), +1:36.453; 4. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), +1:52.581; 5. Sara Pettersson (SWE, KTM), +2:01.170; 6. Virginie Germond (SUI, Suzuki), +2:03.411; 7. Joanna Miller (POL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 8. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 9. Justine Charroux (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 10. Maria Lorca (VEN, KTM), -1 lap(s); WMX Overall Top-ten: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 50 points; 2. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 44 p.; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, KTM), 40 p.; 4. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), 31 p.; 5. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), 30 p.; 6. Sara Pettersson (SWE, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Joanna Miller (POL, KTM), 29 p.; 8. Justine Charroux (FRA, Yamaha), 25 p.; 9. Marielle De Mol (NED, TM), 24 p.; 10. Virginie Germond (SUI, Suzuki), 23 p.; WMX Championship Top-ten: 1. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 263 points; 2. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 248 p.; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, KTM), 212 p.; 4. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), 171 p.; 5. Sara Pettersson (SWE, KTM), 156 p.; 6. Marielle De Mol (NED, TM), 149 p.; 7. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), 131 p.; 8. Francesca Nocera (ITA, KTM), 124 p.; 9. Virginie Germond (SUI, Suzuki), 115 p.; 10. Joanna Miller (POL, KTM), 102 p.;