Nina Prinz wins the 2008 Road Racing Women’s European Championship

After dominating for the entire 2008 season, German Yamaha rider Nina Prinz has takenthe title on her YZF-R1, her second consecutive championship win, at the third and final round of the Women’s European Championship at Albacete (Spain) on Sunday. The reigning European champion from Mannheim / Leutkirch was in predictably consistent form all weekend, despite the atrocious qualifying and racing conditions. Nina went into the final round leading the championship with 50 points, followed by second ranked Lara Cordioli on 33 points. Nina finished the race a respectable 5th position, but first in her class, in less than perfect race conditions, with unpredictable weather affecting the weekend’s track action. The position gave her 11 points, giving her a 61 point total for the 2008 championship and a much deserved Championship title victory. Nina dominated the Saturday qualifying session, another day of difficult weather conditions, with storms and heavy rain hampering the riders. Nonetheless she managed an excellent pole position, qualifying with a time of 1’33.345 on her Yamaha machine, a full three seconds clear of second place Spanish Honda rider Elena Rosell. Nina Prinz – “The second race of the championship was easy compared to Spain this weekend, the weather was much better! This last race however was not my best but I didn’t make any mistakes. The only issue I had was running a dry rear tyre and a rain tyre on the front, not a good combination! The race was ok I finished 5th but in the 1000c class I was 1st so it was ok for me. It’s a great win for the team and for Yamaha and now I have won the European Championship for the second time so it’s really great for me. I’m now going home to relax for a few days!” Michael Galinski (Team Manager – Yamaha Motor Germany Team) – “The weather conditions were very difficult so we are very happy with the end results. Nina was riding with a difficult tyre set up which was far from perfect in hindsight! For the previous races there wasn’t so much pressure but this weekend there was so we are very happy to have won the title! She has proved she is the fastest woman in the championship again!” Laurens Klein Koerkamp (Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Division Manager) – “This is a well earned victory for Nina Prinz and the Yamaha Motor Germany Team. Yamaha’s support of her racing career is a great example of the importance we place on having women involved in motorcycling. We will continue to reach out to this sector of the market and nurture its development.”