Tuesday, 23 May, ZADAR (Croatia): Jonna Brogrstom sent a clear message to her world and European rivals that she very much intends to be in the fight for titles this year after producing a brilliant string of performances to take overall victory in the opening round of the UIM-ABP European Continental Championship in Zadar.

The Swedish rider was outstanding, taking all three Moto wins and maximum points to launch her 2017 international championship campaign in emphatic style.

Estonia’s Katrin Nilbe, who joins the UIM-ABP world tour this year, followed Borgstrom to the chequered flag in all three outings, with France’s Virginie Morlaes sealing the final podium slot.

It was a torrid weekend for world and European champion, Emma-Nellie Ortendahl despite a promising start; mixing it with her male peers she produced an impressive fourth in qualifying and then grabbed pole in the Ladies division by over nine seconds. But that was as good as it got, finishing fourth in Moto 1, retiring after four laps in the second and failing to start Moto 3.