PR: Nancy van de Ven shows character in the first Women's GP in Qatar
Yamaha rider Nancy van de Ven showed in the first race for the Women's World Championship in Losail, Qatar that she can compete with the fastest ladies in the world. The lady from Vlissingen was in the lead for a long time in the first heat until she crashed hard and could do no more than finish in sixteenth place. Despite pain throughout her body, she came back strong in the second heat by crossing the finish line in third place.'
When the starting gate folded down in the first heat, it was Van de Ven who was the first to get through the first corner. She immediately set a high pace and managed to keep reigning World Champion, Kiara Fontanesi, behind her lap after lap. However, in a fast rhythm section, Nancy came out wrong on the last double jump and fell hard. Normally Nancy jumps right back on her machine, but now she had to sit on her knees for a moment because she had hurt herself badly. Still, she got back on the motorcycle, but because the engine had also suffered a lot of damage, she first had to go to the pits to have the necessary things corrected. Nancy still finished the race, but because the crash and her pit stop had cost a lot of time, she could only finish sixteenth.
Between the heats, Nancy had to visit the race doctor because she had a nosebleed after the crash and the doctor saw that her head came into contact with the ground. After several tests, she was given the green light to start in the second heat. Nancy had her doubts about the second heat because she had a sore knee and blurred vision. Still, she was determined to ride and make the best of it. After the starting gate fell, she was in good shape again and was able to start the race in second place. Despite her heavy fall in the first heat, she immediately had a good feeling and jumped all the distant jumps. Even though the riding went well, she had to let Livia Lancelot and Meghan Rutledge pass in the early stages. Nancy continued to follow Rutledge and was able to catch her during the match. She had a good rhythm on the treacherous circuit and managed to hold third place until the finish.
With a 16-3 in the heats, Nancy finished in seventh place in the overall standings. The championship continues in Thailand next weekend.
Commentary Nancy van de Ven: 'The riding went very well in the first heat. I was under pressure from Kiara Fontanesi but was able to keep her behind me for a long time. I thought that if I didn't jump the last double jump of the waves, she would pass me. Unfortunately I fell way too short and jumped on top of the second bump. I fell hard and really needed some time to process the blow and be able to move on. The engine also suffered a lot of damage, so I had to go to the pits to have everything straightened out. This left him with no more than sixteenth place. Between the heats I had to go to the race doctor because he saw me fall and because I had a nosebleed. After several tests I was given the green light to start in the second heat. I had pain everywhere and my knee in particular caused problems. In addition, my vision was blurred, so I decided to take a nap between heats. When I went to the start for the second heat I still couldn't see clearly and I also couldn't prepare my track behind the starting gate properly because of the pain in my knee. Still, I got away well and was able to start the race in second place. I didn't think I would jump everything again right away, but this actually happened naturally. The riding went well and I managed to catch Meghan Rutledge back during the heat and finished third. "I'm really happy with this after such a heavy fall."
Qatar Women's Grand Prix Results:
First heat
1 Livia Lancelot
2 Kiara Fontanesi
3 Meghan Rutledge
4 Francesca Nocera
5 Genette Vaage
16 Nancy van de Ven
Second heat
1 Livia Lancelot
2 Kiara Fontanesi
3 Nancy van de Ven
4 Meghan Rutledge
5 Larissa Papenmeijer
Daily Grand Prix Qatar results
1 Livia Lancelot 50 Points
2 Kiara Fontanesi 44 Points
3 Meghan Rutledge 38 Points
4 Francesca Nocera 33 Points
5 Genette Vaage 30 Points
7 Nancy van de Ven 30 Points
News photo: Bavo
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