Katja Poensgen


Katja Poensgen, is a German former professional motorcycle racer. She is notable for being the first female competitor to qualify for a 250cc Grand Prix race. In 2011, Poensgen was named an FIM Legend for her pioneering Grand Prix racing career.

Motorcycle racing career

Poensgen was born in Mindelheim, Germany as the daughter of the German importer for Suzuki motorcycles. She began riding motorcycles at the age of four. She started her motorcycle racing career in 1993 competing in the ADAC Junior Cup. In 1995 Poensgen rode a Suzuki RGV250 to become the first woman to win the Junior Cup in Germany. That same year, she won the European Supermono championship riding a Suzuki DR650. In 1996 she competed in the German 125cc Championship. The next year she moved to German Supersport Championship.
In 1998 Poensgen made her world championship debut when she took part in the German round of the Supersport World Championship at the Nürburgring circuit. She rode a Suzuki GSX-R600 to a 20th place finish. In 1999 Poensgen began competing in the European Superstock 1000 Championship with a Suzuki GSX 750 R. In 2000 she rode for the Alstare Corona Suzuki Team in the same championship, finishing the season ranked sixth. She also set the fastest lap time twice and scored a second place result at the Misano Adriatico race circuit.
In 2001 Poensgen moved to the 250cc class in Grand Prix motorcycle racing. She became the third female competitor in Grand Prix motorcycle racing history after Taru Rinne and Tomoko Igata. She began the season riding an Aprilia RSV 250 but, changed motorcycles mid-season to a Honda RS250R. On April 8, 2001, Poensgen became the first female competitor to qualify for a 250cc Grand Prix race at the 2001 Japanese Grand Prix. In 2002 she competed in German Superstock 1000. In 2003 she came back to Gran Prix motorcycle racing, without scoring points.
Since 2004 she has worked as a television sports commentator while she continued to participate in Rallycross and Electric-Motorcycle races.

Career statistics

Supersport World Championship

Races by year

Grand Prix motorcycle racing

By season

Races by year

YearClassTeam12345678910111213141516Pts
2001250ccApriliaJPN
22		RSA
24		SPA
23		FRA
DNS		ITA
14		CAT
26		NED
Ret		GBR
23		GER
20		CZE30th2
2001250ccHondaPOR
20		VAL
24		PAC
26		AUS
19		MAL
Ret		BRA
26		30th2
2003250ccHondaJPN
20		RSA
Ret		SPA
DNQ		FRA
DNQ		ITA
DNQ		CAT
17		NED
18		GBR
19		GER
18		CZE
20		POR
Ret		BRA
DNS		PACMAL
17		AUS
Ret		VALNC0