Courtney Duncan heads into WMX Final 2 Rounds with eyes on the prize for the WMX 3x Champion. Holding commanding lead of 185 points, 20 clear of P2 Daniela Guillen, Duncan has all to gain from sustaining seasonal momentum at Round 5 in Arnhem, Netherlands this coming weekend, followed by the Final Round in Turkey on September 3.
Such strength of character to make each race count, bank every point possible, and deliver podium results under pressure has been Courtney’s trade-mark from debut entry in WMX in 2016. From rookie to winning motos, Courtney has raced with sheer conviction that her self-belief, skills, and never-give-up attitude can face down any obstacle that crosses her path.
And, there have been some. The first entry in WMX held plenty of unknowns, as racing in NZ and America was opportunity to test capabilities against the guys and USA women, racing Europe’s best female rider’s was next level.
Fluctuations of success and disappointment, marred CD’s first couple of years, with unfortunate incidents on track causing injury breaking flow of victories out in front of competitive field. With 3 WMX Round wins in 2016, followed by 2 GP wins in 2017 and 2018, Duncan became well accustomed to proving her tenacity would rise and conquer all challenges of racing WMX, to take the iconic Championship in 2019.
Setting a phenomenal record of winning 9 races from 10 in 2019, followed by nail-biter of a finish in 2020 – with Duncan just edging out Dutch rider Nancy van de Ven on count-back, to claiming her 3rd WMX Championship in 2021, #151 has carved her name in Women World Motocross history.
Heading into 2023 WMX Round 5 at Arnhem, performance will rest on qualifying, starts, line choice, passing, and minimal mistakes on the sands of the Netherlands venue, home turf to the line-up of Dutch rider’s. P3 overall Lotte van Drunen, along with Lynn Valk in P4, will surely push the odds of standing on podium, along with WMX 6x Champion Kiara Fontanesi, Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier, fellow Dutch rider Shana van der Vlist – recently back from injury, Denmark’s Sara Andersen and newbie Charli Cannon from Australia.
Notwithstanding defending WMX Champion Nancy van de Ven’s absence due to injury sustained in Round 4, Courtney will spearhead her campaign with traits of positivity of sustaining points lead this weekend. Sure, gap between Rounds 4 and 5 has been massive – 13 weeks to be exact – sure, CD returned to NZ in break to re-set, re-dial, and return to UK a month ago, and sure, mind-set will be as strong as ever with final prize waiting on the track.
2023 WMX Round 5, Arnhem, Netherlands on August 20. Header photo: Courtney Duncan Image: Rendal Baetens Photography.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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