The sun sets on Jerez de la Frontera. We are on October 18, 2024, and the last ends of gum lying on the Andalusian circuit testify to the passage of Ornella Ongaro.
The 34-year-old Cannoise has just completed her second weekend race in Spain, and at the same time her first season in the Women’s World Championship, to an honorable 10e place.
Because no one among the 25 runners came back as far as it, which put their motor career in parentheses for seven long years due to personal concerns.
First Frenchwoman in front of Emily Bondi (15e of the general), the tulip, as it is nicknamed, has lived a particularly complicated recovery season, both in terms of mental and logistics.
“I had to manage everything with Gilles almost (his manager, editor’s note). Last year, I remember that we arrived in Estoril, for the 5 Grand Prix of the season, only an hour before the test starts. We had made the road at night and I slept in the truck.“
Suffice to say that the preparation did not really appear in the list of priorities of the Maralpine pilot, which was already able to reach both ends, dropped by an important sponsor just before the start of last season.
A preparation, finally …
Jerez, it was over five months ago and the situation has changed well since. Always supported by the Cannes Moto Club (MCC) and Eric Henry, its new president, Ornella Ongaro can also rely on a trio of solid partners, which will make this 2025 season already much more affordable at the Pécunier level.
“I have very good relations with the president of the MCC and our sponsors allow us to see coming. Ideally, it would still take one more, the equivalent of 40,000 to 50,000 euros, but it is day and night compared to last year“.
A financial windfall of which Ornella Ongaro has already used to roll in January in Aspar (Spain), then in February in the east of France and in March on the Luc circuit, in the Var.
Three sessions, three more, already, than last year. But always much less than certain pilots, such as the Australian Tayla Relph or the New Zealanders Avalon Lewis and Billee Fuller.
“They still have a step ahead, their budget is not comparable“, notes number 28 of the circuit.
If the figures have not changed, Ornella Ongaro will, on the other hand, will start from the first deadline of Assen in the Netherlands (April 11, 12 and 13), under her new colors of the 511 Riders Experience.
A Spanish stable that has not remained insensitive to the French profile.
“When I trained on the Aspar circuit at the start of the year, the team saw that I was not there to joke (laughs). It was done naturally “So finished the Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team, the French pilot will be for this season the only runner of her team.
“Make a season in better conditions”
As during the very first edition of the women’s world championship in 2024, the pilots will be housed in the same brand: that of the Yamaha R7.
A motorcycle that this time can take advantage of Ornella Ongaro throughout the season, she who trained out of race with a different machine during the previous exercise.
Far from being the only novelty, “the tulip” will benefit from gloves and especially from a brand new, tailor -made combination.
“Last season, the combination was not my size. I happened to leave the motorcycle with my shoulder completely dead“.
Dean of the circuit
Personal level too, the landscape has changed drastically. The nutritionist Marc Saramito, renowned in F1 paddocks, is now part of a staff of six people devoted to the Cannoise, accompanied by a sports coach, an osteopath and a mechanic, among others.
“I go to the room every day except Wednesday, and now I even eat fish! I don’t like these two things, but when we see the results on the motorcycle, it can only push me“, estimates Ornella Ongaro, whose renewed form and freshness could make more than one at the start of this new season.
At 34, the one who advances as the dean of the championship knows that she can now aim even better than her 55 points of the past year.
“The very first goal is to have a season in better conditions than the last, and that’s right. Afterwards, we’ll see where I will be, if I am able to bring podiums, victories, and even more …“.
Especially since the title holder Ana Carrasco will not be on the starting grid this year.
The Cannoise is not mistaken, however, and already watches the path she has traveled with pride.
“At most I see the means I have this season, the most I wonder how I could do to compete last year. Frankly, it is a feat. “
