Katja Poensgen (born 23 September 1976) is a German former professional motorcycle racer. She was the first female competitor to qualify for a 250cc Grand Prix race. In 2011, Poensgen was inducted into the FIM Hall of Fame 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.A Girl in the GPs, Cycle World Magazine, September 2001, Vol. 40, No. 1-7, 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 female 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 Hardwick Racing 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 Grand Prix motorcycle racing, without scoring points.
In 2004, Poensgen worked as a commentator on German television.
Career statistics Supersport World Championship
Races by year Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pts 1998 Suzuki GBR ITA SPA GER20 ITA ZAF USA GBR AUT NED 0
Superstock European Championship Races by year (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Bike 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pos Pts 2000 Suzuki DONRet MNZ10 HOC5 SMR2 VALRet BRA7 OSC4 NED6 BRA211 6th 74 2002 Suzuki VAL MNZ SIL LAUDSQ SMR BRA OSC NED IMO NC 0
Grand Prix motorcycle racing By season SeasonClassMotorcycleTeamRaceWinPodPoleFLapPtsPos 2001 250cc Aprilia Dark Dog Racing Factory 14 0 0 0 0 2 30th Honda Shell Advance Honda 2003 250cc Honda Dark Dog Molenaar 10 0 0 0 0 0 NC Total 24 0 0 0 0 2
Races by year (key) Year Class Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts 2001 250cc Aprilia JPN22 RSA24 SPA23 FRADNS ITA14 CAT26 NEDRet GBR23 GER20CZE 30th 2 Honda POR20 VAL24 PAC26 AUS19 MALRet BRA26 2003 250cc Honda JPN20 RSARet SPADNQ FRADNQ ITADNQ CAT17 NED18 GBR19 GER18 CZE20 PORRet BRADNS PAC MAL17 AUSRet VAL NC 0
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