How was your offseason?

Ludivine Puy: “I had a quiet offseason. I was late getting my bike, which maybe rushed things a little for me. But once it came I started training straight away and I feel ready now for the season to begin.”

Laïa Sanz: “I didn’t have any offseason because I raced the Dakar Rally during January. Once I came back from that I had to start to training and competing in trials. However in the first race, I injured my knee and had to stop for over one month.”

What are your goals for this new season?

L.P: “Unfortunately this will be my last season, but my main goal is to retain my title so I’ll be giving it 100 per cent. I’m not here to finish second – that’s for sure.”

L.S: “My goal is to win some races - for sure it’s going to be really difficult. Due to my injury setback I know it will be difficult to win immediately but I will try my best to put myself in a position to win the championship.”

What is your opinion on the riding style of your direct opponent?

L.P: “She is a great competitor. We get on very well and are honest with each other – there’s no rivalry between us just healthy competition.”

L.S: “I think she is really fast. She impressed me during my first year in the Maxxis FIM Enduro World Championship. She’s really tough, very fast in the cross test, and extremely strong in wet conditions.”

As the regining champion, Puy is the rider everyone will be trying to beat ©Enduro21.com

And away from the races, what do you think of her?

L.P: “Unfortunately, we don’t really know each other because of the language difference. She looks to be very friendly and cool, so I think we are the same. It’s a pity we struggle with the language because I think that we can be good friends.”

L.S: “I don’t know her very well because of my different background in trials and I just see her three or four times a year. But for sure it could be nice to know her better.”

This is the fourth season for the Enduro Women class. Are you satisfied with its progress?

L.P: “Of course I’m really satisfied. Now we have a real championship with four rounds and eight days to race. Moreover we have some really nice events - Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. The EWC promoter, Alain Blanchard, did a really good job to put the women on the foreground. There are eleven women competing in this Grand Prix and it is expected to grow.”

L.S: “I’m really happy. It is also the case in trials, and it’s important to develop women’s motor sports. The factories believe in us and offer more help with more media exposure.”

What will this world title mean to you if you win?

L.P: “This third title will be like my career: never give up. Despite of all the pitfalls I had, I always found the motivation to come back. So it would be a fitting end to my career if I retire as the champion because I’ve always tried my best until the end.”

L.S: “It would be a dream to become the champion. I’ve won the trial’s world championship many times but the EWC is a new goal and it’s a dream to win also in enduro.”

Words: ABC Communications