I had seen Chiara in the Greek and Finnish WMX and went to meet her in the Slovenian paddock. She just walked back from the shower. “Give me 5 minutes to get dressed.” Then she stepped down from the family truck in a short summer dress, ready to tell her story.

At a very young age daddy gave her a bike, at the age of 5 Chiara started in competition with boys and girls in Europe and the USA (Loretta Lyn).

“My brother Luca (MX3 rider – HvH) is 6 years older and when I came to this world my father also wanted me to have a bike. He brought it home, as soon as I saw it I started to cry and wanted to try it. Already on the first day I was able to ride alone so my family was surprised, I was only two and a half years old.”

ITALIAN CHAMPION AT THE AGE OF 5

“When I turned 5 I could start in the Italian Lem mini championship. I won the combined championship, always riding with the boys until the year 2007. That year I had a new experience racing at Loretta Lyn (USA) on a 105 KTM in the girl’s class. I rode two qualifying races and the three heats of the final and won the overall. I was 13 at the time; I am born in March 1994.”

More girls start riding motocross at a young age, amazingly Chiara started doing the full MWX series at the age of 15 on a 125cc and she won her first heat at the final WMX round in Holland in 2009. That year she finished 9^th in the WMX, last year in 4^th and this year she challenges Laier for the title.

In several WMX races young Fontanesi was fast and stylish; she managed to beat Laier in several girl-to-girl battles but then made a small mistake to lose the overall. She was so down throwing away victory in the Greek opening WMX race that tears came to her eyes when she sat with mam and dad after the race.

Her best race ever must have been the double win in the Finnish WMX round this year. In the opening heat she was halted in the first turn, re-started last and closed a 40 second gap on Laier to win the race on the last lap. Chiara Fontanesi is fast, she rides with her heart and she has a very nice, aggressive style but to start last and still win was an amazing performance.

START LAST – FINISH FIRST

“I am having more fun on the sand tracks then on hard ones. When you feel good and confident you can play more with the bike and make a difference on sand, more then on hard tracks where everyone can go fast.”

“I did not crash in the first start in Finland, I turned a bit tight and got stuck on the inside of the corner. When I finally got going again, I really didn’t think about the championship. It felt like there was nobody else on the track, just me and my bike. I didn’t even realize I was in Finland, I was riding as fast as I could and having fun.”

“I never thought I could win that heat. Two laps from the end I looked up and saw Larissa Papenmeier in front of me, I passed her quite aggressively and then I was second. I thought Steffie was too far ahead but I just went as fast as I could. On the last lap I looked up again and saw she did not jump a double so I gave it all and passed her. I could hardly believe I did it.”

The crowd was stunned by such an impressive performance. Chiara stopped at the speaker and TV-crew and gave a professional reaction. She is not only fast, stylish and a pretty petite, she also has personality and makes time for everyone.

A NATURAL TALENT

Chiara Fontanesi is a natural talent, she is fast, spectacular to watch and she looks to be in total control over her machine. Yamaha gave her 3 bikes and living in Parma she is close to Michele Rinaldi.

“He is helping me a lot, he does not see me as another rider, Michele is like a second father to me.”

Brother Luca Fontanesi is a regular MX3 rider and I checked their lap times in the Slovenia races … little sister was almost a second faster than the tall brother.

“Step by step and year by year my lap times came closer to his. When we ride together on the same track it happens that I am faster and then he is not so happy. Sure he is proud of me, sometimes a bit jealous as for a girl it can be easier to be popular and get support.”

Doing the WMX World Championship is a costly affair, do you have big sponsors.

“We do have good sponsors but daddy is my biggest one. Yamaha is really interested and they pay me a bonus, I race for the 2^nd year with Monster. Daddy is my daddy, a good sponsor, also my manager and yeah right my bank also haha.”

Do you go to school, do you only race WMX or also in Italy and maybe more?

“I was at school until October of last year and then decided with my parents to focus on motocross. When I saw that motocross can be my future I could not combine it with school. I wanted to do mx and do it 100%, I believe in this.”

LIVE ONE YEAR IN AMERICA

“This year I did two MX2 races with the boys in Italy, my lap times were good for top 7. But the guys are aggressive on the first 3-4 laps and do block passes. Not only to me being a girl, so better be safe and focus on the World Championship. This year I won the Italian girl’s championship, these heats started right after the MX2 was finished so I went direct from one race into the next one.”  

Is it an option that in the future we will see you in MX2 GP’s? 

“Next year I race WMX, then the plan for 2013 is to race in the US ladies class and also maybe do the X-Games. I would like to live one year in America and focus on racing over there. With that experience under my belt I’ll see where I stand. I might try MX2 but then I really need to check if my speed is good enough to be competitive.”

Motocross is a very physical sport. How do you train, have you suffered from injuries in your already long career?

“I am gifted with a natural talent, some people say my style doesn’t look like a girl. I spend more time at the gym and during the week I ride only 1-2 times. I need to be fresh for the races. Is the same with Cairoli or Roczen, if you have less talent you need a lot more training with the bike. I once had a problem with my shoulder but injuries, no not really.”

HAVE FUN AND BE THE FASTEST

In Slovenia it was announced that the WMX races in Switzerland and Spain have been canceled. That means you have just two motos left in France to try close the 15 points gap on Steffie. Being second to Laier in the Championship is that a position you can live with or did you expect more from this season?

“Canceling races was not such a good idea so now I must go out and win the last 2 motos in France. Then everything can happen. But even if I don’t win the World Championship I am happy, second place is also good for me. I did not expect that I could be so fast and up front in every race this year. I thought it would be more difficult. When I am out on my bike I wanna have fun and be the fastest rider on the track.”

“In several WMX events I scored equal point with Laier with a first and second place but as she won the last heat she took the overall. That didn’t bother me as I did not lose any points, however I felt bad for my friends not winning.”

One more WMX and the season is over – then what?

“After the WMX I will do some races in Germany, I discussed it with Larissa. I am close with her and friends with nearly everyone else. It is nice to have a good relationship away from races and then fight on the track. With Steffie I never speak as it seems she does not want that. And when the last race is done I spend at least one month on the beach at my grandparent’s house in Sicily.”