Stephanie Laier – The 2009 FIM Women’s World Champion

LIEROP (THE NETHERLANDS), 29 August 2009 – Taking her first ever Women’s World Championship Title Laier is now the sole rider to have won both in the former FIM Women’s World Cup and in the actual FIM Women’s World Championship.

The German lost the Title to Lancelot in 2008, the first edition of the Championship which started without her – Laier was sidelined by a shoulder injury and missed round one. This year though defending Champion Lancelot injured herself, leaving her main rival Laier alone in the wrestle for the crown at mid season.

A long time KTM rider, Laier showed her true value in 2005 when she took victory in the maiden edition of the FIM Women’s World Cup. Winning the sole round of the 2005 edition, Laier took the Cup and wrote her name on the list of potential winners for the coming editions of this new competitive series.

In 2006 Laier found a new strong rival in New Zealander Prumm, who went on to take the Cup by winning both rounds of the series. Laier fought tooth and nail, finishing third on the podium in Germany and second in Sweden, level in points with eventual winner Prumm. Laier ended second in the Cup with a gap of just seven points.

Chasing again the Cup in 2007, Laier faced a tough season. At round one in Germany Laier had a mechanical failure in the opening heat but she made up by winning heat two. Then she was knocked out by a crash during round two in Sweden and injured her left thumb which prevented her from racing the final round in Lierop. Laier was an eventual 12^th while Prumm won the Cup again.

Over the winter the World Cup was upgraded to World Championship and the 2008 series begun from Sevlievo, Bulgaria, without Laier. The German had injured a ligament in her right shoulder but did her best to return to action at round two in Mantova, Italy. Laier’s comeback was as strong as ever with the German taking four consecutive heat wins in between Italy and France. Laier was again first overall in Germany, winning at home for her first time, but a technical issue at the final round in Lierop put an end to an astonishing winning streak and to her Title ambitions. Lancelot won the Title ahead of Laier.

Entering the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team over the course of the winter under the supervision of former World Champion Harry Everts, a strong Laier lined up in Bulgaria for round one of the 2009 series but ended second to defending Champion Lancelot. Missing victory again in Portugal due to a crash, Laier won in Bellpuig to take second in the Championship. Lancelot had a strong lead when she won at home in France but a training crash marked the end of the season for the French rider. Laier won in Germany and Sweden taking all four moto’s then entered the final round in Lierop with high Title chances. Taking second in qualifying, Laier went out to win the opening moto but debutant Fontanesi snatched the win. Eventually Laier was second and wrapped up her maiden World Title with just one moto left before the end of a successful 2009 season.

More photos available at www.motocrossmx1.com/galleryinfo.aspx

STEPHANIE LAIER-BIOGRAPHY AND CAREER

Name and surname                                                                      Stephanie Laier

Nationality                                                                                   German

Place of birth                                                                               Heidelberg

Date of birth (d/m/y)                                                                    12/08/1985

Website www.steffilaier.de

First round raced in Women’s World Championship                           2008, Italy

World Titles                                                                                 1

First World Title                                                                            2009

World Championship Round wins                                                    6

First World Championship round win                                                2008, Italy

Best  overall result                                                                        1

Other results

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