Courtney Duncan heads into Women MX World Championship Final Round at Trentino in 7 days time- will it be 2 WMX Titles in a row of the Kiwi? Standing 2nd Overall in Championship – 4 points from Red Plate holder Nancy Van de Ven, Duncan will be all eyes focused on the prize – claiming consecutive victory for 2020.
For sure, 2020 WMX season has endured plenty of challenges, with all Women put on tender-hooks after racing was put on hold post Round 2 in March. Long wait, with Courtney returning back home to NZ, before Infront announced revised schedule, CD packed bags once again to arrive in UK under DRT Kawasaki.
With 4 wins and 2 seconds from 8 races, Duncan sits pretty confident that performance on track is not a problem, speed right up there, and determination to clear out in front top of mind. Starts, as per will be key, so will keeping calm amidst banging of bars which will be inevitable given such a competitive, close field.
If history repeats, then New Zealand stands proud with Katherine Prumm (now Oblerlin-Brown) winning the first Women MX Cup in 2006, and then making it 2 in a row in 2007. Katherine’s passion to race at world level, determination to achieve goals and sense of pragmatic strategy when racing against the world’s best women won her acclaim from the highest echelon in sport. Not only did Katherine’s victories set precedent for up-coming riders like Courtney, but also raised the level of awareness on what Women can deliver on the track.
Fast forward to 2016, Courtney made debut appearance at WMX Opening Round in Qatar. And, what an eye-opener that weekend was claiming 1-1 Overall win from most seasoned WMX riders. I remember Livia Lancelot’s comment post racing: ‘it is good to have Courtney here, she raises our game’. It wasn’t until 3 seasons later that CD claimed prize standing top of podium with WMX Title in 2019.
All of which will be played out again in 7 days time at the picturesque setting of Trento, Italy. Final Round 5 will no doubt push all WMX riders to their limit- physically with racing 2 motos in one-day format, mentally knowing how close points stand and emotionally with all women putting all they have into what they love- racing WMX.
WMX Round 5 MXGP of Trentino November 1st.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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