Four years have now passed since the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship welcomed a women’s class. This season, the world’s elite female enduro riders will get the opportunity to race four of the series’ eight Grand Prix. Starting in Spain, then heading to Portugal, Romania and finishing in France at the championship’s final event, the women enduro riders, who have shown themselves to be every bit as courageous as the men, will participate in an intense and furious season.
The Enduro Women championship kicks off on May 11th and 12th in Puerto Lumbreras (Spain). So, with only two weeks to go before the Grand Prix, it is time for us to take a closer look at the class…
The favourite
Laïa SANZ (E – Gas Gas): With the retirement of Ludivine PUY (F), the way to the title seems to be perfectly drawn for the 2012 World Champion… Competition’s bulimic, (Dakar, Trial and Enduro World Championship and now X-Games) the Spanish will have to take care of herself if she wants to avoid the injuries that can stop her in her way to the title… No doubt, Laïa is the rider to beat in 2013!
The outsiders
From Audrey ROSSAT (FRA – KTM) to Jane DANIELS (GB – Husaberg) through the Australian duo Jemma WILSON (Honda) – Jessica GARDINER (Sherco), those girls can look for a day win and a final podium…
Audrey ROSSAT (F – KTM): Third last year behind the duo SANZ – PUY, the French rider has only one goal: to be back on the podium and improve his final result. ROSSAT imposes herself as the big favourite for the Vice-Champion rank but will have to face the thirsty young guns of the class (BERREZ, GARDINER, DANIELS…)
Jessica GARDINER (AUS – Sherco): Newly landed from Australia in 2012, this “little” girl has improved all along the year to finally grab a podium during the Final. With only 20 years old, GARDINER has a big room for improvement and can target the final podium.
Jemma WILSON (AUS – Honda): After a really good start of season, her rise has been stopped with two big injuries in her legs. Just like her compatriot GARDINER, “Jemm” is young (24 years old) and has an important room for improvement. A serious client for the 2nd place…
Juliette BERREZ (F – Yam): On the EWC since 2011, the French has shown a lot of talent but was regularly unlucky… In 2013, Juliette went from TM to Yamaha and she will have to adapt quickly to her new bike if she wants to reach the podium.
Jane DANIELS (GB – Husaberg): The young Brit was the 2012 mid-season revelation. Landing in Italy, she scored two podiums and a fourth rank in four days and then finished second in Tours for the SuperEnduro. DANIELS, 19 years old, has a brilliant future and will be able to fight with Laïa in few years!
We can’t forget them…
In this Women class very open behind Laïa SANZ, we really can’t forget them…
Samantha TICHET (F – KTM) who made an encouraging 2012 season (4th on Sunday in Italy), she will look once again for a place in the Top 10 and some nice “shot”…
Geraldine FOURNEL (F – Husaberg) who’s back from her knee injury. She will be back to the level she had in 2011;
Toni JARDINE (ZAF – KTM) that will give a bit more of exoticism to this Women class. She perfectly prepared herself during winter.
But the main question is which of those talented women can stop Laïa SANZ in her quest for a second world title? Author of an intense duel with “Lulu” last year, the 12 times Trial World Champion can aim for a perfect season but undoubtedly ROSSAT, DANIELS and GARDINER will not let him reach his goal so easily and BERREZ, WILSON, FOURNEL … could shuffle the cards in a category that bring freshness and charm to the EWC. See you on Friday, May 10th in the evening in Puerto Lumbreras (Spain) for the some answers!