ŠENKVICE (Slovakia), 08 September 2013 – It was a day of pride, guts and glory in Senkvice, Slovakia, for the sixth and final round of the FIM WMX World Championship. Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Meghan Rutledge proudly took her first ever WMX round victory, while Monster Energy Yamaha’s Chiara Fontanesi gritted through the pain for second with Rabbit Racing Kawasaki’s Stephanie Laier rounding off the podium in third.
The day started off with unfortunate circumstances for yesterday’s top qualifier HM Plant KTM UK’s Natalie Kane. The Irish lady, who was sitting second in the championship standings, couldn’t line up for race one due to being in hospital for a medical check up after injuring her chest in the warm up. So, when the gates dropped for race one, it was Rabbit Racing Kawasaki’s Stephanie Laier who took the holeshot with Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Meghan Rutledge hard on her tail. Before the end of lap one, the Australian Rutledge had found a way around the former World Champion Laier, and soon went on to lead every lap for her first race victory this year. Despite keeping Rutledge in her sights, Laier couldn’t do anything more and was forced to settle for second. Meanwhile Monster Energy Yamaha’s Chiara Fontanesi battled through the pain of her foot injury to take third place which was enough to be crowned World Champion for the second year in a row. The battle for fourth was raging as French Justine Charroux, Dutch Nina Klink and Norwegian Ganette Vage went to war for fourth. Despite the challenge, Charroux was the successor taking fourth forcing Klink and Vage to settle for fifth and sixth.
With the goal of finishing the season on the podium, HM Plant KTM UK’s Natalie Kane was given the “OK” from the doctors and returned from the hospital for race two. Remarkably the brave Irish Lady passed the holeshot receiver Justine Charroux and went on to lead every lap for an unchallenged victory in race two. Meanwhile, the 2013 WMX World Champion, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Chiara Fontanesi had a good start and made a few good passes to finish second in race two for second overall. Meghan Rutledge rode a smart race to take third place resulting in her first ever WMX round overall. Rabbit Racing Kawasaki’s Stephanie Laier had to fight for fourth with Dutch rider Nina Klink, while it was close in the end, the former world champion Laier managed to edge out Klink, taking home fourth in race two.
After the six round series, Monster Energy Yamaha’s Chiara Fontanesi won four of the six rounds and was crowned 2013 WMX World Champion after race one today in Senkvice. Runner up went to Australian rookie Meghan Rutledge while former world champion Rabbit Racing Kawasaki’s Stephanie Laier finished the season in third.
WMX Race one top 10: 1. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, Kawasaki), 25:38.634; 2. Stephanie Laier (GER, Kawasaki), +0:05.552; 3. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:30.447; 4. Justine Charroux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:36.201; 5. Nina Klink (NED, KTM), +0:46.177; 6. Genette Vage (NOR, KTM), +0:47.014; 7. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), +0:47.478; 8. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +0:50.161; 9. Marianne Veenstra (NED, KTM), +0:52.220; 10. Virginie Germond (SUI, Suzuki), +1:06.921;
WMX Race two top 10: 1. Natalie Kane (IRL, KTM), 25:51.022; 2. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:15.459; 3. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:24.592; 4. Stephanie Laier (GER, Kawasaki), +0:34.087; 5. Nina Klink (NED, KTM), +0:43.015; 6. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, KTM), +0:47.964; 7. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), +0:48.578; 8. Genette Vage (NOR, KTM), +0:52.343; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +0:52.862; 10. Virginie Germond (SUI, Suzuki), +0:56.392
WMX Round of Slovakia top 10: 1. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, KAW), 45 points; 2. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Stephanie Laier (GER, KAW), 40 p.; 4. Nina Klink (NED, KTM), 32 p.; 5. Francesca Nocera (ITA, SUZ), 28 p.; 6. Genette Vage (NOR, KTM), 28 p.; 7. Justine Charroux (FRA, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Natalie Kane (IRL, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 25 p.;
WMX Championship overall: 1. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 287 points; 2. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, KAW), 243 p.; 3. Stephanie Laier (GER, KAW), 232 p.; 4. Natalie Kane (IRL, KTM), 227 p.; 5. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, KTM), 173 p.; 6. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 147 p.; 7. Justine Charroux (FRA, YAM), 135 p.; 8. Britt van der Wekken (NED, HON), 130 p.; 9. Francesca Nocera (ITA, SUZ), 109 p.; 10. Marianne Veenstra (NED, KTM), 109 p.;
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