New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan will race the Women’s World MX Championship Opening Round at Qatar, February 26th and 27th 2016.
Having spent the past few months recovering from injury, Courtney is now set to line up against her peers, ready to prove her skill, speed, fitness and determination to win on the International MX stage.
With career highlights finishing 6th at FIM Junior World MX Championship in 2009, winning USA Women’s Triple Crown AMA Pro Outdoors Round at Hangtown in 2013, plus numerous NZ MX Titles, Courtney is poised to take on the Women’s World MX elite not seen since Katherine Prumm won the Title 2x in 2006 and 2007.
Currently training under the guidance of NZ’s Vice World MX Champion 2x Josh Coppins, # 151 has already seen positive benefits from the change in training strategy. With JCR Altherm Yamaha Coppins knowledge, experience and support, Courtney has realised there is plenty of untapped potential racing her YZ250F.
With the Women’s World Championship 7 Round Series kicking off at the Lossail circuit in Qatar in 5 weeks, I caught up with Courtney before she flies out:
SC: How are preparations going heading into Women’s World MX Championship at Qatar February 26th and 27th?
CD: Really good! Actually I’m up here at JCR as we speak. Training day in day out making sure I’m prepared the best I can be for the gate drop in Qatar. I’ve been back on the bike for a while now and can feel a huge improvement which is really positive. We have another 5 weeks before I go so there’s still more time to gain more speed and bike fitness.
SC: The WMX Series must be the ultimate in your MX career. Tell us your thoughts on what it means to race WMX 2016?
CD: It’s massive for me. For any Women MX racer this is the ultimate and as big as it gets. We’re talking World Championship and I can’t go any higher than that. It’s all very exciting, as a kid growing up I’ve always wanted to go race over in Europe so I guess you could say it’s a childhood dream to be given the opportunity. I’ll definitely be doing everything I can to make it work.
SC: Having the guidance of Josh Coppins for your training would have such positive effects on your preparation to race in Europe. What are the benefits working with Josh?
CD: Yeah, absolutely. I feel there are huge benefits. The most obvious one is being able to help me be ready and prepare the best I can be for WMX. Josh has been there and done it all plenty of times so he knows the challenges that lie ahead. Particularly, what I might find hard. We can work on that now so that I’m ready when I get there. He knows the tracks and everything that goes along with racing in Europe. I’ve already learnt so much in a short space of time. It’s really been great!
SC: With the Opening Round in a few weeks what are you looking forward to and from there for the rest of the Series?
CD: I’m looking forward to it all. I honestly can’t wait. Believe it or not even heading to the airport and the flight, I just can’t wait to get over there and line up and race and be part of it all. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do and now it’s just round the corner. I’m doing everything to be ready!
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