Laia Sanz
Encyclopedia
This is a Catalan
name. The first family name and Father's surname is Sanz and the second family name and Mother's surname is Pla-Giribert.
Laia Sanz Pla-Giribert (Corbera de Llobregat
December 11, 1985, Spain
), Also known as Laia Sanz. Is a Spanish sport-woman eleven times Woman's Trial World Champion and ten times Woman's Trials European Champion in Outdoor Motorcycle Trials
.
She has also form part of the Spanish Female Team in the Trial des Nations
, wining it four times ( 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011 ).
In 2010 competed in the Woman's Enduro World Championship
for the first time . And also in 2011 participated, for the first time, in the Dakar Rally
wining the Female motorcycle category and finishing 39 overall.
Cota 25 cc.
In 1992, aged seven and encouraged by her mother, she participated in a race at the Catalan Junior Championship that was taking place in her village. She finished eighth and last, but she wanted to come back for more. The next year she joined the Championship from race one. With that step she joined a male-dominated sport without any female championships at the time.
In 1997 she won her first race in a male championship, riding an 80 cc bike. She also took part in an international female trials competition for the first time. In 1998 took part in the First Edition of the Woman's Trials European Championship, unofficial at the time, and won it. She was only twelve years old and competing against more mature raiders, attracting attention from fans and professional teams. Thanks to such a great result she started to consider a professional career as a rider. Also that year she took part in the Spanish Trial Championship, where she was the only female rider.
From then on she has collected many titles in international Female competitions, wining the Woman's Trials World Championship seven consecutive times (2000–2006). She has also competed in Male Championships with good achievements.
She has raced for Beta
, but in 2004 she move to the official Honda
team Montesa-HRT
. She has won World, European and Spanish titles with both makers. Actually she share team at Montesa-HRT
with Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami
.
, a childhood dream, and joins the Dakar Legend Jordi Arcarons as a trainer, another childhood dream. She also participates in the Woman’s Enduro World Championship
as part of her training for the Dakar, and she achieves a very respectable third place after only participating in four of the six races. She also keeps racing in trial where she wins World, Europe and Spanish championship and Trial des Nations.
She has participated in the 2011 edition of the Dakar Rally
, on a Honda CRF450X as part of the Team Arcarons RST KH-7. And with Arcarons as a wingman, she not only finishes one of the toughest races on earth, but she wins the Female category, and manages a very consistent performance with a 39 position overall.
She is planning to keep racing Trial, Enduro and Dakar.
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
name. The first family name and Father's surname is Sanz and the second family name and Mother's surname is Pla-Giribert.
Laia Sanz Pla-Giribert (Corbera de Llobregat
Corbera de Llobregat
Corbera de Llobregat is a town situated in the comarca of Baix Llobregat in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.-External links:*...
December 11, 1985, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), Also known as Laia Sanz. Is a Spanish sport-woman eleven times Woman's Trial World Champion and ten times Woman's Trials European Champion in Outdoor Motorcycle Trials
Motorcycle Trials
Motorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe....
.
She has also form part of the Spanish Female Team in the Trial des Nations
Trial des Nations
Trial des Nations is the most important Motorcycle trials competition of national teams organized by the International Motorcycling Federation . It has been held annually since 1984 at different countries. Each team is composed of four riders in the male category, and since 2000, three riders in...
, wining it four times ( 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011 ).
In 2010 competed in the Woman's Enduro World Championship
World Enduro Championship
The FIM World Enduro Championship is the world championship series for enduro, a popular form of off-road motorcycle sport. The championship currently features three classes , along with separate categories for junior and female riders. The WEC was first organized in 1990, and currently consists...
for the first time . And also in 2011 participated, for the first time, in the Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
wining the Female motorcycle category and finishing 39 overall.
Early years
Laia learned how to ride a bicycle by the age of two. The first contact with a motorbike came the same year, when her father used to seat her in the petrol tank of his bike and ride her around. By the time she was four, the passion had grown and, without telling anybody, she began to ride her brother's motorbike. Laia's older brother, Joan, also a motorbike aficionado, had a MontesaMontesa
Montesa may refer to:* the Spanish motorcycle manufacturer, now known as Montesa Honda;* Order of Montesa, a Christian military order;* Montesa, Valencia, a municipality in Spain....
Cota 25 cc.
In 1992, aged seven and encouraged by her mother, she participated in a race at the Catalan Junior Championship that was taking place in her village. She finished eighth and last, but she wanted to come back for more. The next year she joined the Championship from race one. With that step she joined a male-dominated sport without any female championships at the time.
In 1997 she won her first race in a male championship, riding an 80 cc bike. She also took part in an international female trials competition for the first time. In 1998 took part in the First Edition of the Woman's Trials European Championship, unofficial at the time, and won it. She was only twelve years old and competing against more mature raiders, attracting attention from fans and professional teams. Thanks to such a great result she started to consider a professional career as a rider. Also that year she took part in the Spanish Trial Championship, where she was the only female rider.
International début.
In 2000 she wins the Spanish Cadet Championship, again the only female rider. This is the most satisfying of her titles according to her. This year sees the First edition of the official Woman's Trials European Championship and Women's Trials World Championship. She takes part in both and achieves her first World title and finishes second in the European Championship. She also takes part as a member of the Spanish team in the first edition of the Female Trial Des Nations. And she wins it.From then on she has collected many titles in international Female competitions, wining the Woman's Trials World Championship seven consecutive times (2000–2006). She has also competed in Male Championships with good achievements.
She has raced for Beta
Beta
Beta is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. Beta or BETA may also refer to:-Biology:*Beta , a genus of flowering plants, mostly referred to as beets*Beta, a rank in a community of social animals...
, but in 2004 she move to the official Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
team Montesa-HRT
Montesa Honda
Montesa Honda is the Spanish subsidiary of Honda, which assembles several models of motorcycles, bicycles, and parts at its Barcelona plant. The company exports 75 per cent of its production to Europe.-Permanyer and Bultó:...
. She has won World, European and Spanish titles with both makers. Actually she share team at Montesa-HRT
Montesa Honda
Montesa Honda is the Spanish subsidiary of Honda, which assembles several models of motorcycles, bicycles, and parts at its Barcelona plant. The company exports 75 per cent of its production to Europe.-Permanyer and Bultó:...
with Toni Bou and Takahisa Fujinami
Takahisa Fujinami
is an internationally renowned motorcycle trials rider.- Major titles :*1995**1st All Japan Trial Championship*1998**1st All Japan Trial Championship*1999**1st All Japan Trial Championship **2nd World Trial Championship*2000...
.
The Dakar and Enduro.
In 2010 Laia finally get the much awaited chance to train for the Dakar RallyDakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
, a childhood dream, and joins the Dakar Legend Jordi Arcarons as a trainer, another childhood dream. She also participates in the Woman’s Enduro World Championship
World Enduro Championship
The FIM World Enduro Championship is the world championship series for enduro, a popular form of off-road motorcycle sport. The championship currently features three classes , along with separate categories for junior and female riders. The WEC was first organized in 1990, and currently consists...
as part of her training for the Dakar, and she achieves a very respectable third place after only participating in four of the six races. She also keeps racing in trial where she wins World, Europe and Spanish championship and Trial des Nations.
She has participated in the 2011 edition of the Dakar Rally
Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally is an annual rally raid type of off-road automobile race, organised by the Amaury Sport Organisation...
, on a Honda CRF450X as part of the Team Arcarons RST KH-7. And with Arcarons as a wingman, she not only finishes one of the toughest races on earth, but she wins the Female category, and manages a very consistent performance with a 39 position overall.
She is planning to keep racing Trial, Enduro and Dakar.
Titles
- 11 Woman's Trial World Championship: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
- 10 Woman's Trial European Championship: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011.
- 8 Woman's Trial Spanish Championship: 2003 till 2010.
- 5 Trial des NationsTrial des NationsTrial des Nations is the most important Motorcycle trials competition of national teams organized by the International Motorcycling Federation . It has been held annually since 1984 at different countries. Each team is composed of four riders in the male category, and since 2000, three riders in...
: 2000, 2002, 2008, 2010, 2011. - 1 Spanish Trial Championship Cadet category ( The only female competing ): 2000
- 1 Dakar Rally Female Category : 2010
