IMBA Ladies First Race

IMBA Ladies 18-05-2025 in Berghem, Netherlands

During qualifying, reigning European champion Steffi Laier from Belgium showed that she was the one to beat. However, Amber Simons from the Netherlands posted the fastest qualifying time.

She was therefore allowed to start first in the first race, followed by Steffi Laier and Britt van de Werff and Katlee van Dam, both from the Netherlands. The sixth fastest time was set by Kathryn Booth from England.

The starting grid was well filled with 29 participants and Steffi Laier showed right from the start who was boss. Amber Simons followed her ahead of her compatriot Jenitty van der Beek. Lap after lap, the tension was palpable, but no one really wanted to give up their position. Eight riders finished the race in the same order as they started, with Steffi Laier taking first place.

The second race started with the same grid positions as in qualifying. Steffi Laier was second and Amber Simons first. But Steffi was already back in front at the first lap, this time followed by Jenitty van der Beek, who swapped places with Amber Simons on the third lap. Britt van der Werff had worked her way up from sixth place at the start to fourth, relegating Kaylee van Dam to fifth. The English rider Kathryn Booth managed to hold on to sixth place.

The third race of the day took place on the sand track in Berghem, which had been badly churned up by the other races and was very difficult in the deep sand. But here too, the organisers had done everything possible to improve the approach and landing zones on the jumps. Steffi Laier then passed Amber Simons again in the first lap, who had taken the lead at the start. The race continued lap after lap until the finish, and Steffi's third victory was never really in danger. But she once again took second place ahead of Jenitty van der Beek, so that the podium was in the same order.

Unfortunately, there was a crash in the third lap involving the English rider Kathryn Booth, who was hit by her own motorcycle and had to be taken to hospital with a suspected broken forearm. We all wish her a speedy recovery and hope she will be back on the grid for the next race in Belgium on 19-20 July.

Results and photos can be found on the IMBA website, which has been redesigned and is now online.

Willi Jütten