SUPER SAMUELA, THE EUROPEAN CHAMPION!
24 August 2005 - Aprilia

Thanks to the fourth place obtained on the track at Schleiz, Samuela De Nardi conquered the title of female European Champion in the 1000cc category atop the Aprilia RSV 1000.

After the two victories at Vallelunga and Rijeka, in this the third and conclusive race of the championship (the first in the history of motorcycle racing), all the 21 year-old Venetian had to do was keep tabs on her lone remaining rival in the final classification, the French Fabienne Migout (atop a Yamaha R1) who had placed second in two previous races.

With a careful trial due to the perils of a definitely challenging track (half of which was on the road and characterized by blind curves and continuous ups and downs, and especially with always changing weather), Samuela brilliantly reached her objective. The only competitors that separated her Aprilia 1000 from the top were the Germans Prinz and Seestaller (extremely fast on their home circuit) and her French rival, although Samuela maintained seven points of margin in her favor against Migout.

“It could have been an easy race - declares Samuela - but we took off with wet tyres and after a few laps the sun began to come out, making it was quite difficult to remain standing.

Becoming the European champion is a wonderful satisfaction! I absolutely wanted to reward Aprilia with this honor since they have helped me a lot in the last two years. Whether equipping me with exceptional motorcycles such as the Tuono and the RSV, affording me great professional experiences (such as participating in the 8 Hours of Suzuka), or testing out the World Champion SXV Supermotard. Beyond Aprilia, the title is obviously dedicated to my family, which always shared my passion while helping me in every way, and to two special people who are currently going through a rough period. The season is still not over, there are two more races in the Italian Championship and I will probably race the last trial of the World Endurance at Vallelunga. Beyond that, I will be an instructor at Aprilia´s riding course in Varano”.

Born in Vittorio Veneto on March 19th, 1984, Samuela began to race the minimoto when she was four and after dedicating herself to the motocross, she came in 13th place overall in the Challenge Aprilia 125 in 2000 and the following year won the final classification of the Trofeo Alpe Adria 125. After one season with a Honda GP 125, she debuted on the Aprilia Tuono 1000 in 2003; finishing fourth in the European Endurance Championship trial at Rijeka and third in the Italian Female Championships (in which she only participated sporadically due to a wrist problem). At the end of the season, Aprilia awarded her with a contract as an official rider, allowing her to dispute the Superbike trophy at the MotorShow with the Aprilia Sxv that was the Supermotard world champion.

In 2005 Samuela passed from the Tuono to the Rsv 1000 where, beyond her victory in the European Female Championship, Samuela is competing for the female Italian title only two trials from the finish and brilliantly concluded the 8 Hours of Suzuka, the first female Italian in history to participate.
(photo Renato Ronconi)

Here are the results from the third and final trial of the European Female Championship at Schleiz:

1 - Nina Prinz (D-Suzuki)
2 - Edeeltraud Seestaller (D-Kawasaki)
3 - Fabienne Migout (F-Yamaha)
4 - Samuela De Nardi (I-Aprilia)
5 - Merion Voigt (D-Suzuki)

Final Classification of the European Female Championship, 1000cc:

1 - Samuela De Nardi (I-Aprilia) 63 points
2 - Fabienne Migout (F-Yamaha) 56 p.
3 - Sandrine Martin (F-Yamaha) 34 p.
4 - Mariagrazia Vita ( I- Ducati) 26 p.
5 - Nina Prinz (D-Suzuki) 25p.

www.aprilia.com

More News
  For August 2005
  From Aprilia
  For Racing General
  Biker247.com Home Page