Larissa Papenmeier off back of finishing 3rd Overall in 2019 Women MX World Champonship last weekend, now lines-up in first ever debut racing MX2 at MXGP of China in Shanghai in couple of days time.
Punching well above her weight in courage, Larissa is over the top with enthusiasm to race against the highest level in 250cc class in FIM World MX Championships. Not only will Larissa gate-with-likes of multi-talented 2018 and 2019 MX2 Champion Jorge Prado, but also test her resolve on racing new circuit-venue- which is first for MXGP as well.
Following blow of falling sick at Women MX World Championship Final Round at Turkey 7 days ago, Larissa and Team 423 sure embrace the new with positive anticipation on what all will gain from the GP experience.
As Lare says on arrival at Shanghai- pre-racing:
Tag 9 Team #423 Trip to MX2
Shanghai
Today our specially organized sightseeingtour was on the plan 😂
Let’s go to the taxi to the metro then draw your ticket and go to the adventure downtown shanghai 😉
We got out of the chicken foot and frog spit 😬
Here are a few pictures of our today’s trip 👍
Tomorrow we will devote ourselves to all the best goes mx2 💪❗️❗️😉💪
Counting as only the 2nd Women MX World Championship rider to race MX2 class, Larissa takes pride in pushing boundaries which Italian WMX 6x Champion Kiara Fontanesi set in 2017. Kiara was given opportunity to race MXGP of Valkenswaard MX2 class when Yamaha rider Jorge Zaragoza was injured. With same gusto appreciation of racing MX2 250 class, Kiara finished 34th and 32nd for 35th Overall out of 40 gate-start.
Heading into 2019 MXGP/MX2 Final Round for season, Larissa notes all experience gained this year racing WMX finishing 3rd Overall on podium, will be put into action at the wait-to-see circuit. Below are Lare’s thoughts on WMX Final Round at MXGP of Turkey, and heads up for this weekend racing MX2.
#423: ‘It was a tough weekend for me. I started to get sick on Saturday morning and it got worse every hour. One and a half hours before the race I was still lying at the medical trying everything that I could to be able to race. I had a fever and was feeling really sick in my stomach’.
‘After some medication it was getting better but I started to feel sick again just before the race. I wasn’t sure if I should start but I wanted to give it a try. With no power I didn’t come that far and also crashed pretty hard. More than 8th was not possible’.
‘After the race I went straight to the hotel to lie down as it was getting worse again. Sunday morning I felt a bit better and I could eat a bit. Until the last minute we waited to start the second heat. But I really wanted to try. I finished 5th. I have lost the second place in the Championship and I’m really disappointed. But for these circumstances I’m for sure happy that I could keep the third place.
‘To line up at the MX2 class next weekend is really exciting. I don’t want to gain anything I just want to have fun, get some experiences and maybe some points’.
MXGP of China September 14th-15th.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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