Kawasaki mounted Kiwi Katherine Prumm has claimed the 2006 FIM Womens World Championship after she took the outright win at the second and final round in Uddevalla, Sweden today. The feat even more remarkable considering she broke her wrist only 5 weeks ago whilst racing in the USA.
"That was the toughest part of my season: actually overcoming my injury was a big effort and this win is something I have worked so hard for!" said Prumm.
After arriving at the second round tied on points with Frenchwoman Livia Lancelot Prumm was keen to head to the front for the start.
Prumm's worst fears where realised when Lancelot took the lead in the early running of moto 1 and looked to have the moto sewn up. Prumm, who was in third, was unable to catch Lancelot or defending champion Stephanie Laier in second. On the last lap Lancelot made a mistake and hit the dirt leaving Laier a mulligan and Prumm in second. Lancelot remounted and crossed the line in fourth but was awarded third after third placed finisher Jessica Patterson from America was disqualified for outside assistance. Local rider Elin Mann was fourth with German Alexandra Haupt ending the top five.
In the second moto Lancelot took the lead again at the end of the first lap but she crashed again in the fourth lap. It was not her luckiest day but she was not physically prepared for such an effort: she was fast but could not keep her speed up for long. Livia handed first place to Prumm who controlled Laier for the rest of the race. The German defending Champion finished second at the chequered flag while Prumm was first. Jessica Pattersson snared third place and Elin Mann was fourth again ahead of Larissa Papenmeier.
At the end of the day 18-year-old Katherine Prumm celebrated both the GP win and the FIM Women‰Ûªs Motocross World Cup win. German Stephanie Laier lost her title and was second while Livia Lancelot‰Ûªs hopes for the title changed into third place.
Round Overall
1 PRUMM Katherine NZL - KAWASAKI - 47
2 LAIER Stephanie GER - KTM - 47
3 MANN Elin SWE - KTM - 36
4 LANCELOT Livia FRA - YAMAHA - 31
5 VEENSTRA Marianne NED - SUZUKI - 28
6 KARLSSON Marie SWE - YAMAHA - 25
7 HAUPT Alexandra GER - KAWASAKI - 25
8 WILLIAMS Nerys GBR - HONDA - 24
9 LEMP Birgit GER - KTM - 24
10 PATTERSSON Jessica USA - HONDA - 20 20
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS - FINAL
1 2PRUMM Katherine - NZL - 94
2 110 LAIER Stephanie - GER - 87
3 3LANCELOT Livia - FRA - 78
4 5MANN Elin - SWE - 63
5 99HAUPT Alexandra - GER - 55
6 43VEENSTRA M. - NED - 53
7 24PAPENMEIER L. - GER - 52
8 21KARLSSON Marie - SWE - 50
9 85LEMP Birgit - GER - 46
10 31 WILLIAMS Nerys - GBR - 37
