Laia Laia Sanz on fire!
By TMX Archives on 26th Aug 11
LAIA Sanz, Ladies World Trials Champion an amazing 10 times, set course for an 11th SPEA FIM crown with a convincing win in the opening round of the 2011 series when the opener of a compact three round series was staged at Grossheubach in Germany last Sunday.
But while the best Ladies trials rider of all time was busy collecting a maximum 20 Championship points, with a near perfect ride, Brits Emma Bristow and Becky Cook were fighting over the podium places. The result went in the Ossa rider's favour with Cook taking third - and Donna Fox, making a welcome return to International competition, following a two year lapse, a fighting fifth.
There were six Brits battling for honours with Hannah Styles just missing out on a Championship point by a single mark while Katy Sunter finished 20th and Nikita Smith gaining valuable experience in 25th.
Just as the men's trial in Japan was affected by rain so was the Ladies in a totally different continent. Sanz was immaculate through the opening half dozen subs easing into a clear lead but with rain starting to fall, and the sound of thunder in the valley, the Repsol Montesa ace succumbed to a five at the seventh where the only rider to escape for less than a maximum was the endlessly cheerful Donna Fox.
Donna was actually on her way to a a truly excellent first lap score and finished the lap on just a dozen marks lost, just one behind Cook who in turn was just a further single astern of arch-rival Bristow.
On the second lap Laia was determined not to have any more lapses and the Barcelona girl went absolutely clean, including the dreaded seventh where not only did she ride it feet-up she was the only contestant to reach the Ends cards. An awesome ride.
Meanwhile the British girls were still engaged in their private battle with Bristow pressing on, trying to finish before the sections deteriorated further while Cook hung back, expecting or hoping that the rain would stop and conditions improve. Despite waiting a good half hour at the penultimate section the ploy didn't work and a five on the slippery rocks ensured that the Sherco star finished third.
Fox unfortunately doubled her score on the second lap and slipped behind Spanish rider Sandra Gomez but it was still a lively comeback from never say die Donna.
Meanwhile Hannah Styles on the Gas Gas was an agonising single mark away from the points, finishing on 73 while no fewer than three girls finished just a single mark in front on 72. The Ladies resume their Championship chase this Sunday at Tanvald in the Czech Republic.
WORLD LADIES TRIALS CHAMPIONSHIP
Rd 1 – Grossheubach, GERMANY
1 Laia Sanz (E - Montesa) 5 + 0 = 5
2 Emma BRISTOW (GB - Ossa) 10 + 16 = 26
3 Becky COOK (GB - Sherco) 11 + 19 = 30
4 Sandra Gomez (E - Gas Gas) 17 + 19 = 36
5 Donna FOX (GB - Beta) 12 + 25 = 37
6 Rosita Leotta (D - Sherco) 21 + 17 = 38
7 Sandrine Juffet (F - Gas Gas) 18 + 21 = 39
8 Ina Wilde (D - Sherco) 23 + 20 = 43
9 Alba Villegas (E - Sherco) 25 + 22 = 47
10 Miriea Conde (E - Beta) 33 + 24 = 57
11 Marelyne Journet (F - Beta) 38 + 31 = 69
12 Jessica Wulf (D - Beta) 33 + 37 = 70
13 Kathrine Dohla (D - Gas Gas) (9x0) 37 + 35 = 72
14 Pauline Schmitt (D - Beta) (7x0) 34 + 38 = 72
15 Kristie McKinnon (AUS - Gas Gas) (4x0) 37 + 35 = 72
SERIES STANDINGS after 1 (of 3) rounds (2 to count): 1 Sanz 20 points, 2 BRISTOW 17, 3 COOK 15, 4 Gomez 13, 5 FOX 11, 6 Leotta 10, 7 Juffet 9, 8 Wilde 8, 9 Villegas 7, 10 Conde 6, 11 Journet 5, 12 Wulf 4, 13 Dohla 3, 14 Schmitt 2, 15 McKinnon 1.
NEXT ROUND: August 28 – Tandvald, CZECH REPUBLIC.
