Italian wonder woman wins in Italy

Sunlit clouds filled the blue skies of Maggiora for round three of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship. Despite the line up of strong contenders such as Australian women’s motocross champion Meghan Rutledge, British Ladies class champion Natalie Kane and ex WMX world champion Stephanie Laier there was no stopping Monster Energy Yamaha’s Chiara Fontanesi as she continues to take this season by storm, adding yet another double victory to her so far perfect season. As the WMX lined up for race two it was safe to say the expectation was for Monster Energy Yamaha’s Chiara Fontanesi to take yet another victory here at her home round of Italy. While Fontanesi did win, it looked as though holeshot receiver Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Meghan Rutledge was in the prime position to show what she’s made of. Unfortunately for the young Australian Rutledge she couldn’t keep the bike on two wheels, crashing on the opening lap of the race and handing over the lead to the defending champion Chiara Fontanesi. Meanwhile behind Fontanesi the race was heating up as HM Plant KTM UK’s Natalie Kane and Rabbit Racing Kawasaki’s Stephanie Laier engaged in a fierce battle for second. While the ex world champion Laier kept Kane honest she never ceased the opportunity to pass. After leading every lap this weekend local hero Monster Energy Yamaha’s Chiara Fontanesi took the victory with a perfect 1-1 score. Standing on the second step of the podium was HM Plant KTM UK’s Natalie Kane with her 2-3 finishes followed by Rabbit Racing Kawasaki’s Stephanie Laier with her 3-4 score for third. After a fall in race two Bud Racing Kawasaki’s Meghan Rutledge managed to fight her way from outside the top twenty back to an outstanding ninth place allowing her to finish fourth overall with her 2-9 finishes. Francy Racing Team’s Francesca Norcera kept the Italian fans happy being the second Italian to finish inside the top five with her 8-4 results for fifth. WMX Race 1 top ten: 1. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 25:24.646; 2. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, Kawasaki), +0:04.428; 3. Stephanie Laier (GER, Kawasaki), +1:01.122; 4. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:22.857; 5. Justine Charroux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:24.415; 6. Natalie Kane (IRL, KTM), +1:29.019; 7. Gabriela Seisdedos (ESP, Kawasaki), +1:29.714; 8. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), +1:31.193; 9. Marianne Veenstra (NED, KTM), +1:40.645; 10. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), +1:42.796 WMX Race 2 top ten: 1. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 25:14.794; 2. Natalie Kane (IRL, KTM), +0:04.580; 3. Stephanie Laier (GER, Kawasaki), +0:05.043; 4. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), +0:50.797; 5. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +1:11.072; 6. Nina Klink (NED, KTM), +1:11.905; 7. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), +1:12.249; 8. Marianne Veenstra (NED, KTM), +1:13.836; 9. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, Kawasaki), +1:19.462; 10. Joanna Miller (POL, KTM), +1:21.843; 11. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:33.754 WMX Overall top ten: 1. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 50 points; 2. Stephanie Laier (GER, Kawasaki), 40 p.; 3. Natalie Kane (IRL, KTM), 37 p.; 4. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, Kawasaki), 34 p.; 5. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), 31 p.; 6. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), 28 p.; 7. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), 26 p.; 8. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), 25 p.; 9. Marianne Veenstra (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 10. Nina Klink (NED, KTM), 21 p WMX Championship top ten: 1. Chiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), 150 points; 2. Meghan Kat Rutledge (AUS, Kawasaki), 118 p.; 3. Natalie Kane (IRL, KTM), 117 p.; 4. Stephanie Laier (GER, Kawasaki), 116 p.; 5. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), 82 p.; 6. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), 76 p.; 7. Britt van der Wekken (NED, Honda), 73 p.; 8. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), 63 p.; 9. Nina Klink (NED, KTM), 57 p.; 10. Justine Charroux (FRA, Yamaha), 53p