Interview: Ludivine Puy and Laïa Sanz
By TMX Archives on 4th May 12
Only few hours from the KTM Super Test of the Grand Prix AMV Seguros of Euskadi, here is an interview of the two teammates and rivals of the Enduro Women class: Ludivine PUY (F) and Laa SANZ (E).
How was your off season?
Ludivine PUY: I had a quiet offseason. I get my bike really late, so I made a lot of bike and then, I had a lot of great time when I rode again my bike.
Laa SANZ: I didnt have any offseason because I went to the Dakar and when I came back I had to start to train and compete in trials. In the first race, my knee was injured and I had to stop for one month and a half so I couldnt work a lot before these two first races.
What are your goals for this new season?
L.P: It will be the last season for me, but my main goal remains to win the title. Im not here to finish second; that is sure. I made a lot of trial and I did what I had to do so now well see how it is going to be!
L.S: My goal is to win some races; for sure its going to be really difficult. I couldnt grab a victory for the moment, but why not dream to win the championship.
What is your opinion on the riding style of your direct opponent?
L.P: She is a great competitor. On the sport side, to be in competition with her is great because there is no place for stupid chatting and its a healthy competition. She is a great competitor as I will never have during my career.
L.S: I think she is really fast, I was impressed during my first year in the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship. She has a really tough level, so fast in the cross test, and really easy on wet conditions.
And on the off bike side, what do you think of her?
L.P: Unfortunately, we dont really know each other because of the language difference. She looks to be very sympathetic and cool and I think we are the same. We like to be with the guys and no useless talk with the girls. Its a pity that Im not speaking Spanish because I think that we can be good friends.
L.S: I don t know her very well because Im coming from trials and I just see her 3 or 4 times a year. But for sure it could be nice to know her better.
This season, you are teammates; does it give you an additional motivation this year?
L.P: Of course, I have an additional motivation as it didnt worked as I dreamed of. To simplify, well say that she has the access to the bedroom and they put me on the garage so of course its giving me more motivation.
L.S: For sure, and I will learn a lot of all my teammates. Last year I was alone and not in a factory team, but this season Im in Gas Gas Factory Team. It will be easier, with better assistance, better bike, and also nice people, good mechanics and riders, like Ivan (CERVANTES) or FIGUERAS, REIS, and others. They are nice and are always trying to help me.
With a 4th Grand Prix this season, the Enduro Women class is more and more important. Are you satisfied of it?
L.P: Of course Im really satisfied of it. Now we have a real championship with 4 stages, 8 rounds, so now well have a lot of fight. Moreover we have really nice Grand Prix: Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. Those are the nicest and best with great organizers. Im really satisfied relative to what we had before. Alain (BLANCHARD) did a really great job to put the women on the foreground. We are 11 during this Grand Prix and next well be more because there are a lot of girls injured. Its really a nice championship.
L.S: Im really happy. It is also the case in trials, and its important to make grow up woman motorsports, to make the Factories believe in us, and get more help, press communication
What this World title means to you?
L.P: This third title will be like my career: never give up. Despite of all the pitfalls I had, I always found the motivation to come back. So it would be a consecration and I can retire serenely because I made my best until the end.
L.S: A dream. Im many times trial World Champion but the EWC is a new goal and its a dream to win also in Enduro.
No doubt, a nice and exciting season is waiting for the entries of the Women class with in main point this duel already intense between Lulu and Laa.
