STEFFI LAIER: PODIUMS IN US NATIONAL

Our Ariete grips&goggles rider STEFFI LAIER got the podium at the US national in Hangtown-Sacramento, USA. Photo: Frank Hoppen

After 16 hours of flying from European land to USA it was not easy to get used to the time and bad weather conditions. In California normally hot weather changed in cold and wet race conditions to prepare for the Hangtown race event. However it was nice to get adapt to the standard injection bike and have some training on USA ciruits.

40000 people showed up in tropical weather condtions near Sacramento to watch the first round of the AMA national championship. Big crowd and great atmosphere did the adrenaline pomping and made the nervs coming in the body... Steffi would become 3th in 2 motoʼs at a very rough track of Hangtown. To become 3th in the final results. It was racing time...

Race day: It was a really short time to get used to her new race bike just made ready for the event. Only 5 minutes free training and 10 minutes to put the time on the table was very short to get some results on the charts. Also second time practice Steffi needed her time to get used to her New KTM US factory bike. A 3th time was possible to realise at this moment. Fingers crossed for the race event.

Steffi Laier in action, photo: Frank Hoppen

MOTO 1: After having a good reaction on the gate it was Patterson who came first in the first corner with Fiolek. Steffi was holding on on 5th position. After some corners she could climb to 3th and putted the pressure on Fiolek on second position. She was able te get 2nd but a mistake pushed her back to 3th. The arm pump started for Steffi and it was very hard to control the factory KTM...

She would become 3. The win went for Patterson and Fiolek.

MOTO 2: A briljant start putted Steffi nearly on the lead of the race. A little mistake pulled her back in the field and it was Patterson and Fiolek who took command. After have a lap the German  multi-world champ pushed her bike on the first position... But the arm pump started again and the control of the bike was going down fast... Even a mistake pulled her out of the track but managed to get 3th on the finish. The win went again to Patterson; before Fiolek

This would also be the final result:

1. Patterson

2. Fiolek

3. Laier

Steffi Laier: “ I am very happy with this opportunity to come to ride in the US again. It was a dream for 2011 to make this happen and it was nice to be here. After 10 years there changed a lot and I was very impressed how the level did get higher. I had a difficult time to get used to the short time practice sessions. I only had the racing bike at the race day and it was hard to get adapt 100% to the bike like I have at home. I never had that complete feeling. The nervs made my race to an hell... I wanted to show that I was good and maybe wanted to much but yes it is done and it can not change.

Many thanks to KTM North America for there help and especially Carlos!!!”

Team Manager - Willy Van Thillo: “ I worked hard to get this moment happening for her. I want to thank Mr. Roger De Coster and his team for all there efforts they did for us in this hectic moments...

It was not the Steffi I am used to see riding... but yes we can not change that moment. The team did a great job and helped us getting Steffi to the podium!

Many thanks to Pirelli USA for there help and KTM Factory Austria!” Now it is time to focus and get that world title!”

Steffi Laier on the podium, photo: Frank Hoppen

Next round - GP Finnland, more news: www.steffilaier.com