DIRT NEWS
LAIA SANZ ENDURO CHAMP
Despite the global situation , it has been a very busy year for GasGas ’ Laia Sanz who has cemented herself as one of the toughest women in the dirt with two world titles this year . Following her victory in the Trials arena , Sanz followed on her success with victory in the FIM EnduroGP Women ’ s World Championship after two days of racing at the GP of France . Taking her GasGas EC350F to the top of the timesheets in 11 of the 13 special tests over the weekend , she ensured another maximum points haul , and with it , her second world title of the year having already secured the TrialGP Women World Championship .
“ It ’ s been an amazing weekend , I ’ m really happy ,” Sanz said . “ Coming into this final round I had a small advantage at the top of the standings , so I knew that two good days should be enough to take the championship . After winning yesterday , my lead going into today was even greater , so I was able relax – maybe too much on the first test . I felt good and so I pushed a little harder on the second lap . But anyway , to get the title is amazing and of course , this season I have won two , so it has been a fantastic year .” Following her double win at the GP of Sweden , Sanz came into the final round of the Women ’ s championship with an eight-point lead in the standings . With a further 40 points up for grabs over the two days in France , the Spanish ace couldn ’ t take anything for granted and knew she had to perform in order to secure the title . With conditions dry and dusty in France , Laia produced a masterclass of riding on day one , ultimately winning all but one of the tests to top the timesheets by close to a minute . Increasing her lead in the championship standings to 13 points , she carried her speed into Sunday to again dominate and take the win by 47 seconds . Sanz ’ s 2021 EnduroGP Women world title , her sixth in the class , comes almost two months to the day since she won the TrialGP Women World Championship , and combined with her recordbreaking finish in the Dakar Rally in January , caps off an incredible season for the legendary all-rounder .
20 KIWI RIDER