Home glory for Papenmeier at German WMX round – Race Report & Results

Round four of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship in Teutschenthal saw some great action and an amazing scenario for the German fans who came in number despite changing and difficult weather conditions.

Words and Images by Infront Moto Racing

The round was won by one of their own in the person of Larissa Papenmeier from SYE Racing Team 423. The German won for the first time since 2021 and what a better way to do it than on home soil for the rider with the longest career in the championship.

In Race 1, it was the home star Larissa Papenmeier who swept across to take the Holeshot and the lead with it in front of RFME Spain National Team’s Daniela Guillen and Schmicker Racing’s Lynn Valk and MXFONTA RACING’s Kiara Fontanesi. The red plate De Baets Yamaha MX-Team’s Lotte Van Drunen had a bad start compared to her usual standards and passed the line of the opening lap in 6th position.

During the opening lap the German took the outside line in a corner while Guillen stormed on the inside to take the lead. Then a lap later it was Fontanesi, who maybe after seeing Guillen earlier, repeated the same move than the Spanish to take the 2nd place.

Van Drunen managed to get herself quickly up to 5th on lap 2 and charged Valk to move up to 4th a couple of laps later. Things got tougher for Papenmeier with the Red Plate on her tail. Van Drunen attacking Papenmeier after fifteen minutes but the German repeatedly shut the door. German crowd making huge noise as Papenmeier held off the series leader.

However, Papenmeier put on a valiant effort but had bow on lap 10 of 12 when she struggled in some ruts before a jump as Van Drunen got the momentum to move up to 3rd.

Meanwhile Guillen was comfortably at the top as he pulled away from Fontanesi. The Spanish rode superbly and controlled it from the front controlled the pace until the end to win the race. Fontanesi with her best race of the season at that time put a great option for the overall win. Van Drunen was way behind the top 2 and had to settle for 3rd in the end with Papenmeier behind in 4th.

The front 5 riders with Valk in 5th did a good a job to get a chance to get on the podium.

With the rain falling in the morning, race 2 was bound to be an exciting one. It was Valk who took the best start in front of an excellent Papenmeier who seemed to get an extra push and help by her home fans who made themselves heard the whole weekend. Both riders swapped places a couple of time in the first corners but Valk took the advantage and the lead.

Sara Andersen started very well in 3rd while Guillen saw herself in 5th but crashed in the opening lap and picked herself up in 12th with no front guard to work with.

Meanhwhile, Fontanesi quickly went up to 4th while Van Drunen with another bad start was up to 6th at the turn of the opening lap. However, Van Drunen started her comeback and passed April Franzoni on lap 2 for 5th. She then kept going and charging at the front.

Andersen fell down the standing with Fontanesi and Van Drunen passing the Dane over the course of two laps. On lap 7 of 10, Fontanesi was virtually on the top step of the podium when she fell down and picked herself up in 7th and ending up in 8th.

Valk at the lead was racing for the top spot of the podium while Papenmeier eyed the 2nd place. Guillen charge up to 7th on lap 4 after her mistake in the opening lap and managed to get up to 4th in the end.

With three laps to go, suddenly Van Drunen started to attack Papenmeier for second but the German stayed strong to keep the second spot and deny the young Dutch talisman.

In the end while Valk won the second race, she got a two-place penalty for not respecting a waved yellow flag during the race and lost two places, which demoted her from the podium for a 4th overall. That fact, consequentially gave the race win to home hero Papenmeier, and therefore winning the overall on home ground with a 4-1. It was her first win since 2021 which added to the emotion.

Second on the podium was the Spaiard Guillen who fought back heroically after falling at the beginning of race 2 to finish 4th. Closing the podium was red plate Van Drunen, securing her lead in the championship with a solid weekend.

Larissa Papenmeier: “It was really tough, especially on home soil. I hard the fans and I was super nervous as I heard them every lap. On Saturday was already goo for me and was satisfied with it. Today, with the tough conditions, ruts were deep and you had to stay focus and find your lines. I’m really speechless, I don’t know what to say! Fans were incredible and supported me so much. It’s a dream come true to win on home soil!”

Results

Race 1

Race 2

Overall