Seventeen-year-old Theresa Bauml – Ossa was just one of a seven strong German female army at the opening round of the 2015 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship held in Sokolov, Czech Republic late last month, to make it the most dominant nation in terms of entries at the initial encounter. Ranked fifth overall in last year’s final general standings, Bauml was the highest placed German national in 2014 and therefore brings forward with her high expectations for this season.
Inspired and nurtured by Germany’s very own former FIM Women’s Trial World Champion, Iris Kramer, who now works on behalf of the FIM as the section adviser for the ladies series, Bauml knows that she has a lot to live up to back in her homeland. Yet despite this potential heavy pressure on such young shoulders Bauml spoke positively and freely about her hopes for the 2015 campaign which she comes into after recovering from an off season injury.
“I broke my arm during the winter whilst training with the German Junior team, which meant I was off the bike for six weeks and was not ideal but is all part of what we do. It was frustrating to be at the events and the other training sessions and not being able to ride, but there again I think you can also learn a lot just from watching the other riders, so it was still a benefit for me to be there.”
“I have now been back on the bike for a long period and I am pleased to say that I am 100% recovered and I am fully fit again, so I am looking for my best results this season.”
“Apart from the injury I feel my training has been good this winter and I feel that I have improved my level. It was great to be on the podium in Spain last year and this is my target for this season. Already I have shown that this is possible so there is no reason that I can not be inside the top three again, although I also know that this will be difficult because of the high level of some of the other girls.”
“Emma (Bristow) is a great rider and is our champion now, so you know that it is always going to be difficult to beat her. But if she has a bad day for some reason, I have to be ready. It might not happen, but you can always dream that you will win a GP one day at least. Being on the podium is my first and real goal. Normally Emma should be champion again this year I think, as she is so strong.”
“It is great to have so many German girls inside the championship, as it means that we can travel and train together and can support each other during the events. We are good friends, but we are also rivals too, but I have to say generally we have a great spirit between us.”
“Iris is a brilliant teacher and mentor and someone we all look up to. It would be great to win the championship like she did back in 2007, but I am not putting too much pressure on myself at the moment as I am still very young and have some years ahead to gain the experience that you need to be a World Champion.”
“Iris is a brilliant teacher and mentor and someone we all look up to. It would be great to win the championship like she did back in 2007, but I am not putting too much pressure on myself at the moment as I am still very young and have some years ahead to gain the experience that you need to be a World Champion.”
Bauml placed fifth and sixth respectively over the two days of competition at round one in the Czech Republic and will be hoping for a better showing alongside her German patriots when the 2015 FIM Women’s Trial World Championship resumes in Jerez, Spain come early September.