Stephanie Laier – The
2009 FIM Women’s World Champion 30-08
FIM Motocross World Championships GP Netherlands
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 12th 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.
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
YEAR
|
BIKE
|
TEAM
|
CHAMPIONSHIP
|
RESULTS
|
2008
|
KTM |
KTM GERMANY
|
FIM WOMEN'S
MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP |
2 |
2007
|
KTM |
KTM GERMANY
|
FIM WOMEN'S
MOTOCROSS WORLD CUP |
12 |
2006
|
KTM |
KTM GERMANY
|
FIM WOMEN'S
MOTOCROSS WORLD CUP |
2 |
2005
|
KTM |
PRIVATEER
|
FIM WOMEN'S
MOTOCROSS WORLD CUP |
1 |
Source: Motocrossplanet
TOP
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