Second consecutive win leaves Lancelot alone on top of FIM WMX standings
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Despite losing the final moto to rival Stephanie Laier, Lancelot consolidated her leade in the FIM Women‰Ûªs Motocross World Championship by wrapping up the overall and building on her Championship lead at the end of the series‰Ûª maiden visit to Portugal last Sunday.
Main Photo: Livia Lancelot . This photo, Laier wrapped up the second heat win
Despite losing the final moto to rival Stephanie Laier, Lancelot consolidated her leade in the FIM Women‰Ûªs Motocross World Championship by wrapping up the overall and building on her Championship lead at the end of the series‰Ûª maiden visit to Portugal last Sunday.
American Ashley Fiolek ended second on the day ahead of Larissa Papenmeier, who took her first season's podium. Laier‰Ûªs weekend was hampered by a crash in heat one as she ended eighth overall. The German lost the second place in the Championship to Fiolek.
In the second moto it was Laier who led the whole moto while Lancelot struggled after a troubled start. Kawasaki Racing‰Ûªs Lancelot worked her way up to second after passing holeshotter Fiolek but it was already too late to try and catch Laier.
LS Motors Honda‰Ûªs Fiolek had no chance to fight back and settled in third as Lancelot did the same with Laier-the latter accumulated a safe gap while the defending Champion worked her way up through the pack.
Franke and Papenmeier swapped places in the second lap with the Kawasaki Elf Pfeil rider securing fourth ahead of Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2‰Ûªs Papenmeier.
Lancelot topped the podium from Fiolek and Papenmeier as the French built on her Championship lead. Fiolek is now second ahead of Laier.
"The second moto today was not as good as the first one on Saturday; I struggled with both starts but today was worse, I had some trouble with the bike when the gate dropped," Lancelot said.
"After the first start I came back to second behind Steffie Laier and then took the lead. Steffie followed me but she made a mistake and crashed. After the second start I had more trouble to pass Ashley Fiolek, she is always changing her lines and it‰Ûªs always difficult to pass her. When I reached second Steffie was leading easily, I was ten seconds behind and it was smarter to settle for second position rather than try to catch her. I have a strong lead in the series and next weekend we‰Ûªll discover another new layout in Bellpuig. I will go there hoping to win a third GP in a row.‰Ûª
WMX Overall top ten:
1. Livia Lancelot (FRA, Kawasaki), 47 points
2. Ashley Fiolek (USA, Honda), 40
3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), 38
4. Maria Franke (GER, Kawasaki), 36
5. Nathalie Kane (IRL, Suzuki), 30
6. Elin Mann (SWE, KTM), 30
7. Marianne Veenstra (NED, Suzuki), 27
8. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 25
9. Sarah Whitmore (USA, KTM), 23
10. Marielle De Mol (NED, Yamaha), 22
