Lancelot tops a three way KTM podium in WMX in Loket

2010-08-10 09:51
KTM-supported rider Livia Lancelot of France was the dominant woman on the tricky serpentine track at Loket in the Czech Republic on Sunday. She scored a 3-1 result to take victory in the GP in the penultimate round of the Women's Motocross Championship. KTM riders Maria Franke and championship leader Steffi Laier joined her on the podium.

Lancelot, who had to sit out the second half of the 2009 season after a shoulder injury and is riding a KTM for the first time this year, was naturally delighted with her performance.

Livia Lancelot: "For sure I am very happy. Even though it is not much for the championship it was still a great weekend for me because for the first time I felt great on the bike and even if I had problems in practice I could still win the race and the GP. Now I will try to win again in Fermo (Italy). I don't really have any hopes for the championship but vice champion is still not so bad!"

The women, who raced their first moto on Saturday, had a battle with the circuit after heavy rain deluged the track, turning the stony, hard pack course into a mud bath. It was Germany's Maria Franke who prevailed in Saturday's difficult conditions, taking victory in front of Red Bull KTM factory rider Laier Steffi with Lancelot in third place.

39-point lead for Steffi Laier
Sunday morning saw the track dried out and it was Laier who took the holeshot in the second moto but she was hampered by pain in her arm and had to concede to Lancelot and settle for two second places, making her one point shy of overall Livia and Maria, each with 45 points. Steffi now has a 39 point cushion going into the last round, which will be at Fermo Italy and while anything is still possible with 50 points still available, the Red Bull factory rider is the favorite to retain the title.

Laier looking forward to a possible three way sweep of titles for KTM
When asked if she had considered the possibility that she might be able to settle matters here in the Czech Republic, Steffi said: "I did think maybe I might be able to wrap up the championship here I thought it would be better to do it in Italy. I hope that Tony (Cairoli) and Marvin (Musquin) are going to win the MX1 and the MX1 titles and then we can all celebrate together."

Commenting on her arm problem, the German rider added: "I woke up this morning with a small problem but I thought it was just muscle pain but it really started to bother me during the second heat. The doctor said it is swollen and the nerve is blocked and it feels heavy and a little stiff."


WMX Results
1 Livia Lancelot, France, KTM, 20-25—45
2. Maria Franke, Germany, KTM 25-20—45
3. Steffi Laier, Germany, KTM, 22-22—44
4. Larissa Papenmeier, Germany, Suzuki18-16—34
5. Francesca Nocera, Italy, Honda, 16-14—30
Other KTM
6. Natalie Kane, Britain, KTM, 12-15—27
9. Sara Petterson, Sweden, KTM 13-10—23

WMX Championship Standings
1 Steffi Laier, Germany, KTM, 274
2. Livia Lancelot, France, KTM, 235
3. Maria Franke, Germany, Suzuki, 218
4. Chiara Fotanesi, Italy, 204
5. Natalie Kane, KTM, Britain, 185

Manufacturer's Championship
1 KTM, 289
2. Suzuki, 220
3. Yamaha, 215

Source: KTM-Sportmotorcycle AG

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