STEFFI LAIER: WMX, round #5

We went to Slovakia for the next round of the world championship. A very easy and fast track would be the 5th round of the WC. Steffi with still 9 points a head was looking forward after 3 busy weeks and no training because needed to still recover from the last 2 GPʼs.

Saturday: Steffi made a very good impression today. Winning the qualifing heat with a very easy performance it all looks good for the race tomorrow.

In the time training Steffi always putted the second time on the table and felt good on the bike. However we had some mechanical problems and we did work to get the problems done before qualifing race. It looked a very good decision. After a very bad start in the middle of the pack. It was Pappenmeier who took the lead. Before Fontanesi. After a few corners Steffi pulled to 4 place and kept going. After 1 lap she took over second place and was running behind Larissa. After a few corners Steffi took over command and pulled away... A great mental performance from Steffi after some struggling weeks. The health is going the ride direction however it was not possible to do any bike training this week. To safe all energy for this weekend.

Steffi in action!

Sunday: The track was made very muddy this morning to get the speed down. Yesterday the average speed was 55 km/h. Because of the slippery race conditions the speed went hard down. Steffi enjoyed and putted without any effort the fastest time on the charts.

Race 1: A very bad start for Steffi who did start around 5th position. She did fight back from the back and putted herself on second position. This behind Fontanesi who took a little gap in the next laps.

From the side it did not look the smooth Steffi that we are used to and there was something not wright. To the end of the race she started to close the gap again en riding went a lot better. But it would become to late. Fontanesi would win before Steffi.

Race 2. It was Fontanesi who took the lead and she pushed hard to get away. In the start she was 3 behind Nocera. After half a lap the KTM factory rider could pass and get hunt the leader. Steffi was second and was searching to get a rhythm. Fontanesi pulled away 3 sec in the first 3 laps and it all looked a little bit lost. But then Steffi did find her second breath and started to get that back wheel. It would become a thriller of a race where Laier did put her 250 SX-F in the last lap on the leading position. She would take with this win also the overal! Before Fontanesi and Van Der Wekken.

Steffi in action!

Steffi Laier: We changed the front tyre to have more grip but it was the wrong tyre. I couldn' t take any corner with it and always the bike slipped away. It took me complete out of balance and was searching to get a better feeling. I also didn't have any back brake in the first 3 laps... but on the end I was happy with second. In the second race Chiara started very explosive on the race and I was to late to get that back wheel from the start...However I felt really good with the changes we made to the bike and starting to find new lines and a good rhythm. I wanted to win! No madder what ... I am happy with this victory in the last lap and for sure with now 3 weeks rest that is coming...I really need it!"

Willy Van Thillo - Manager: "It was a very strange weekend. Saturday it all looked that we did work in the correct way. However weather did bring the tyre choise not in the best direction; a big shame! I really liked the powerfull Steffi on Saturday and I was really happy to see that back in the second race! The next week rest will be good because the travelling was very heavey for her doing all the rides with the camper and not feeling in perfect health. Thanks a lot to the trainer and doctor in Belgium for there super work helping her in this hard weeks."

Next round - GP Slovenia - more news: www.steffilaier.com