Livia Lancelot is ready to rip in Bulgaria

We check in with Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing’s rising female starlet Livia Lancelot - one of Kawasaki's greatest hopes of winning a world title in 2008 - just days before her first GP of the year...
Livia Lancelot is ready to rip in Bulgaria!
Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing’s Livia Lancelot led the 2007 Women’s World Cup before a devastating knee injury almost sidelined the feisty French femme before the final round at Lierop. But despite being in massive amounts of pain, Lancelot toughed it out at one of the world’s toughest sand circuits to secure second in the championship behind Katherine Prumm and ahead of Maria Franke to make it a Kawasaki KX250F 1-2-3 in the final series standings.

After enduring surgery just one week after the Lierop race, Livia was sidelined for the following six months, which meant her preparations for the 2008 season were held back as she awaited the all clear to continue riding once more.

With the first round of the inaugural Women’s Motocross World Championship to be held at Sevleivo in Bulgaria just days away we interrupted the Grand Prix Kawasaki Racing team’s rising female starlet’s pre-event training schedule to find out just how her preparation is coming along.

You underwent surgery last autumn and spent much of the winter recovering – what was the surgery for and how bad was the original injury?

“I snapped the ligaments in my left knee at a French championship round last year and after that twisted it another five times - one time in the first moto at Lierop. I got surgery in September the week after Lierop and didn’t ride for six months after. I started training again in March and raced for the first time since my injury since April.”

Are you now fully fit and ready for round one of the world championship this weekend?

“My knee isn't painful anymore but my muscle isn't as strong as the right one yet. I’ve been working really hard for the past two months and I will do my best this weekend in Bulgaria.”

Your teammate Sebastien Pourcel is on good form at the moment – is it possible the GPKR team can win two classes at the GP in Bulgaria?

“Seb was really fast in Portugal and I hope it will be the same for him next weekend. As for myself, I want to win but it will be the first GP and for now I don't know if I’m ready or not. I’ve only been riding for two months so far this year which really isn’t a lot – we’ll see what happens on Sunday.”

Who do you see as being your biggest competition in this year’s world championship?

“I think Steffi Laier is really fast but I have heard that she is injured and maybe she will miss the GP so I don't know.”

Do you think Women’s motocross is gaining popularity?

“Every year Women's motocross progresses and this year some of the leading girls are in really good teams – myself included. There are also more National championships for girls in 2008 including the French and British championships so yes I’d say it is definitely gaining popularity.”

Do you think you’d like to try and qualify for an MX2 GP at some point in your career?

“I don't know because I’d have to progress a lot before I could try. But I do think it is possible that a girl can qualify.”

Is the Kawasaki KX250F the perfect bike for you?

“The KX250F is a great standard bike already and this year I worked closely with the team and I did some testing for the engine and with the Ohlins suspension. I’m really happy with the results - the bike is perfect and just how I want it to be.”

Who are your heroes/heroines in this sport?

“I don't have heroes but I do like some riders. I like Seb Pourcel because he's really fast and also Chris Pourcel because he doesn't know what stress is. I also admire Stefy Bau, she was really fast when she won in the AMA championship.”

Is it hard staying so feminine in what’s considered to be such a
masculine sport?

“Yes it is, I have to train hard and build muscle to be stronger on the bike but I want stay feminine so that isn't easy...”

What is your favourite thing about motocross?

“Winning the races...”

What will you do when your motocross riding career is finished?

“I don’t know yet. I want to stay in the motocross ‘family’ and find a job at the races... maybe a team manager! [laughs] It could be fun…”