It was back in 2013 when NZ’s Courtney Duncan hit the International Motocross stage taking top of the podium winning USA Triple Crown AMA Women’s Pro-Outdoors.
The win caused uproar amongst crowd, Media not to mention Courtney who outclassed the field- quote from article on RacerX, May 23rd, 2013:
‘On Saturday the fans at the Red Bull Hangtown Motocross Classic were treated to a sound that hasn’t been heard in Lucas Oil Motocross for quite some time: a 125 two-stroke at full tilt, laying waste to the competition. Piloting the machine was 17-year-old New Zealander Courtney Duncan, who rode to a perfect 1-1 score in her first race as a pro’.
Previous taste of first International MX success was in 2011 at Ponca City, winning 65cc-85cc girls class, going 1-1, a result to become Duncan’s signature racing the Women’s MX World Championships in Europe 5 years later.
In between, the fiesty, young female rider from NZ’s South Island, landed history in the making winning NZ’s only International Grand Prix class, MX2 against her male peers. Not just any guys racing Woodville GP, but 2015 EMX 125cc 2nd Overall Josiah Natzke and would be 2016 NZ MX2 Champion Hamish Harwood.
Duncan matter-of-factly states double classing and winning both Women’s and MX2 was bonus in preparation for 2016 Women MX World Championship Opening Round in Qatar, 3 weeks later. Quote article 2016 MXLink:
SC: As preparation for the Opening Round of Women’s MX Championship in 3 weeks, was racing both Women’s and MX2 planned to test where you are at come racing at Qatar?
CD: I don’t think so. We haven’t done much racing so the main reason was for more gate time etc. I was going to race Woodville and I’m eligible for both Women’s and MX2 so it makes sense to race both. I got to practice 6 starts and have 6 motos in one day so it was a good challenge.
Debut Opening Round WMX 2016, Courtney blitzes opposition, in style going 1-1 stunning all there, and all were as speechless at Press Conference post racing.
European journalist Adam Wheeler commented ‘what did we just see, the fastest Women Motocross Rider ever…’ along with Courtney’s own thoughts on racing the World’s best Women: article 2016 MXLink-
SC: The competition was on it with the Women’s field as competitive as expected. Were you confident that your lap times, racecraft and consistency on the track was enough to win?
CD: The women are good, definitely the fastest women I have ever raced. They’re aggressive and everything else that comes with that. They actually put in a better time than me in Qualifying but I tried not to worry about that and just focus on myself and my own riding. I know racing is completely different.
The WMX Round wins carried over to WMX 2017 and 2018 and so to did plans go astray. Injuries crept into the mix, racing all WMX Rounds wasn’t to be, with results 2016 WMX Overall 5th, 2017 WMX Overall 3rd and 2018 WMX Overall 4th.
From career perspective, Duncan has all the experience of what racing at International level is about, has the experience of all challenges, rewards, highs and lows of the sport and has the experience of knowing nothing is certain- or given.
For Courtney Duncan, 2019 WMX Series will be all out affair- all out for consistent up front results, all out for staying cool under pressure, all out for standing firm set on her goals- of bringing Women Motocross World Championship Title home to NZ.
Film edit is 2016 Woodville Grand Prix MX2 Courtney Duncan win:
Words: Sharon Cox
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