Courtney Duncan made extra-ordinary come-back taking Women MX World Championship Round 4 win at MXGP Citta di Mantova today, a remarkable effort given the heavy crash she endured on Saturday.
In what was really battle of wills, WMX riders took to the track with fierce determination racing bar-to-bar, fighting for corner position and running wide even at risk of fall. With tricky, bumpy track conditions, speed was uppermost in minds to gain all important gap out front.
Qualifying pole went to Kiara Fontanesi setting blistering best lap of 1.59.043 confirming first gate pick in Race 1. Drop of gates and Nancy Van de Ven claimed hole-shot out wide with Fontanesi, Papenmeier and Duncan making tight work of running top 4.
Changes of position, mix of lines, along with pressure gauge ramping up between world’s best Women, Fontanesi took the win only to be relegated 2 positions due to jumping on yellow flag. That promoted Nancy Van de Ven to 1st, Duncan, Fontanesi and Papenmeier rounding out top 4.
Battles lines were firmly drawn at Race 2 gate-drop with all 4 edging each other out of line-choice around hole-shot with Duncan pushing through to make the gap. Van de Ven and Fontanesi put everything on track swapping from outside to inside with eventual spill by Kiara allowing Nancy to make pass stick. Duncan cleared out in front winning by 19.231 seconds.
Disappointment for previous Round 3 Red Plate holder Larissa Papenmeier crashing and putting the Yamaha rider back to 8th, with another clean run by Lynn Valk, Line Dam, Shana van der Vlist and Sara Andersen making top 8 Overall.
So, what’s next? Gap of 4 weeks before WMX fires up at Final Round in Trentino- with Championship points so close it’s going to be one hella-of-a battle.
WMX Championship standings: Nancy Van de Ven 166, Courtney Duncan 162, Larissa Papenmeier 160, and Kiara Fontanesi 156.
Words: Sharon Cox.
WMX Highlights Round 4
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