“The  blond on Ago’s bike followed up by a pack of warriors”
were the headlines Sunday morning on the Corriere dello Sport (one of the most popular Italian sports newspapers) by Paolo Scalera, after the Saturday qualifications  had ended  giving a fantastic pole position to the german Nina Prinz on MV Agusta F4 with a 1.44’ 00”. The Bavarian was two to four seconds faster then the pursuers Paola Cazzola, Samuela de Nardi, Alessia Polita, Letizia Marchetti, Fabienne Migout. While in  class 600 the Sardenian pilot Manuela La Licata had only  two tenths of a second over Chiara Valentini’s Ducati 749R, followed by Simona Zaccardi and Eliana Pezzilli.

Sunday morning during  warm up Prinz was still ahead of all: Italians, French, Dutch, Hungarian and Slovenians. Good timings  however  for  many,  who are getting  better from race to race, but the official rider for the German importer of MV was going at  pole speed, doing even better than the male colleagues in European Superstock or Supersport.  So the others all knew that they were going for second or third place on the podium but this didn’t seem to discourage the  pilots, on the contrary, they saw in Nina a role model, the best encouragment ever for this  FemaleEuropean Cup, born only a year ago and already reaching important technical levels.

When the light goes out, the German seems to verge on a jump start, sign of nervousness due to all the eyes on her; Paola Cazzola heads off in front of all, she continues to be the best when it comes to starts. In order to catch up Nina boosts tension hoping to pass immediately with her higher speed and leave Paola behind with a two seconds gap. But the “pack of warriors” forces her to a first pass; she goes through the ‘Trincea’ bend in the lead but she pushes a little too hard and the zeal plays a bad trick  on her. She goes down on the ‘Tornantino’. Astonishment at the  boxes and on the stands, a real ‘coup de theatre’: the number one lying in the gravel and the rivals, incredulous, take off. Big fight between Cazzola, Polita, De Nardi and Marchetti up to the last lap with constant overtakings which certainly didn’t help in making the best timings, but definitely  guaranteed a great show.

A great show in the 600 class as well with Chiara Valentini who starts off well, leaving Manuela La Licata behind. No problems for the two who race with a one to two second gap between each other, while at the rear a close fight goes on between the Hungarian Petra Sovejarto, the French Lidya Jean, the Italian Eliana Pezzilli and the Dutch Iris Ten Katen. To get the better of all is the good looking and  enjoyable Dutch girl who gets to stand on the third step of the podium, behind Valentini’s Ducati 749 and La Licata’s Yamaha R6.

Back to the 1000 cc: Nina Prinz gets up and back on her bike to chase the Italians up front who take the podium with Paola Cazzola number one, just  tenths of a second in front of a Alessia Polita who  in  a great comeback  on the finishing line is in  the  999 Ducati’s  drag followed by Samuela de Nardi.  No podium for Letizia Marchetti, who had  raced  at the same speed as the other three.

The German is able to regain seconds and positions, ending sixth and taking home 10 important points besides the disappointment for a  lost (expected) victory. With these points Nina Prinz, who has a valid Team Manager behind her (ex Teuchart Team), can still gain the title by winning the next races.

“We were hoping in an error from Prinz during the Cup races, -says Alessia Polita  on the podium-but didn’t expect it to happen on the first race and during the first lap”. “The race finishes on the checkered flag” remarks a beaming Paola Cazzola applauding the german rider, “she deserves a victory because she is absolutely the fastest”.

Big party for the victory on the home circuit in front of all the fans of the Joey Dunlop Motoclub and the Ducati  Y2K Team, for Chiara Valentini who at the starting grid was supported by a very funny ‘ombrella boy’ in a lifesaver’s costume with a big ombrella and inflatabe armbands.

A fantastic race here in Vallelunga, exciting and full of suspense under a beautiful sun and above all with timings that  are beginning to scare not a few. The best debut for the Ducati Team who puts both of its pilots on the highest steps of the podium and great general opening for this second edition of the European Women’s Cup, organised by UEM and promoted by Racer Village.