LAIA SANZ - DAKAR 2020

Its almost that time of year again! The famous DAKAR RALLY begins on January 5th 2020 in Saudi Arabia and we’ll be glued to it to watch one person in particular………

The awesome Laia Sanz from Barcelona has been competing in the Dakar since 2011 and has been the fastest woman to compete in the Dakar 7 years in a row holding the prestigious title of completing the rally every year that she has entered with her best finish to date in 2015 when she finished 9th overall.

After starting to ride at the age of two, when her father used to sit her on the fueltank of his motorbike. The family passion for motorbikes took root in Sanz who at four years old was riding her older brother’s Montesa Cota 25cc. Laia was then competing by the time she was only six. The Red Bull athlete has since then become a 13-time Women’s Trial World Champion and 10-time Women’s Trial European Champion in outdoor motorcycle trials. The year 2010 was pivotal for Sanz when she began training with Dakar Legend Jordi Arcarons and also participated in the Women’s Enduro World Championship. The following year she made her Dakar Rally debut and has competed every year since.

Laia’s goal is to finish in the top 15 for 2020 however, she acknowledges that it will be a difficult task due to the skill level of her competitors. Its been tough year for Laia after contracting Q fever - an infectious disease that forced her to stop competing and disrupted her preparation for her 2019 season so we’re stoked to see her lining up for this years 2020 event as one of the worlds best rally racers. But Laia is no stranger to adversity as she to this day remains the only woman to ever finish the event within the top 10 competitors. The philosophy that keeps this motorbike warrior moving forward is simple. “Above all, I want to have a good time. That’s what motivates me. From here, my goal is to get good results because that will allow me to continue dedicating myself to this.”

This year, Laia is riding the new KTM 450 for the GAS GAS factory team and hopes to repeat or improve on her 2015 results and we’ll be cheering for her the entire way!

GO LAIA!

NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DAKAR RALLY ?

Check out the little vid below for a run down of its history and why it’s such an incredible race to watch!

TRIALS RIDER EMMA BRISTOW BECOMES WORLD TRIALS CHAMPION FOR 6th TIME!

enduro21.com

The world trials championships in Japan saw two fantastic wins for Emma Bristow – the Lincolnshire based rider who continues to dominate the sport of motorcycle trials across the globe.

Emma, 28, has been riding high in the trials’ arena since the age of just 16 when she gained a ninth placing in the 2006 World Championships. Currently reigning GP Women’s World Trials Champion, her 2019 campaign started in Japan this month (June) before heading to France and Portugal for the next two rounds.

And it couldn’t have gone better, with the awesome athlete taking two podium spots.

“I couldn’t be happier with the results from the world championship opener, taking two wins out of two,” said Emma.

The sport has taken Emma onto the international stage – a hobby encouraged by her parents when she was only four years of age, before her obvious skills saw her climb the ladder, attracting a run of sponsors and turning professional.

She signed for the Ossa factory in 2011 and rode to runner up position in the World Championships, a result she repeated in 2012. At the end of that season Emma joined Sherco and 2013 proved to be a successful year, winning the Women’s FIM Trial European Championship  Emma then went from strength to strength and, in 2014, she clinched both the British Women’s Title and the Women’s FIM Trial World Championship

With the bikes weighing 70 kilos, Emma explained how core strength was vital to her, along with building and retaining her strength and endurance, especially as the British Championships are mixed competitions.

“It is a fact that men have more natural physical strength and to compete on that level I have to ensure I maintain and continually improve my fitness in all areas. The power and explosiveness have to be there,” she said. Training, either in the gym or on the bikes, takes place six days a week and lasts up to four hours, and that has been the case since her competitive career began. As with many teenagers, she had a hard decision to make when she left sixth form – whether to pursue her sporting dream or go down the academic route.

“I could have gone to University, but I just didn’t know what I wanted to do and was not going to embark on something that wasn’t right for me. I look back and have no regrets.”

Married to James Fry, a fellow enthusiast, the couple are completely immersed in the sport and support each other.

“We love it. And while I know I have been lucky to follow my dream, it is like everything in life – you must work hard and do all you can to do well in your chosen area, whatever it may be,” said Emma.

While it may be assumed that Emma, a solid professional for many years, would be completely confident in her abilities to perform, there is always that nervous determination to succeed.

“Nerves are natural and there would be something wrong if you didn’t feel those nerves in whatever you are trying to do. But again, in whatever you are doing in life, you must put in the correct preparation and believe,” she added.

Source: https://magnavitae.org/sporting-greats-emma-bristow/