Women Motocross World Championship lines up this weekend at GP of The Netherlands, Valkenswaard- Opening Round of 5 on the MXGP 2019 calendar.
Who’s in? Who’s ready? Who will run up front, making most of gaining every point available in the long-in-between-gaps of Series to Final WMX Round in Turkey, September 8th.
For a start: NZ’s Courtney Duncan will be out to accomplish long-sought after goal of winning WMX Title since first debut in 2016. Switching to BIKE IT DRT Kawasaki Team, Duncan will take opportunity to race in front, prove #151 has ability to win, and complete full WMX season.
Interesting facts: Duncan will fill space left by previous Brands WMX Livia Lancelot WMX Champion 2x- now Team Owner of Honda 114 Motorsports. And, continue legacy set by NZ’s Katherine Prumm (now Oberlin-Brown) who claimed WMX Title 2006 and ’07.
Top of list contender would have to be Dutch racer Nancy Van de Ven. Having battled through tough 2018 WMX season, recovering from leg fracture, and coming so close to taking Title in Final WMX Round at Imola, Nancy has enjoyed good pre-season training and preparation heading into WMX Opener.
# 85: ‘I feel pretty good. I had a really good winter with a lot of improvement compared to last year! I like the track, it’s in my home country with my own crowd so I hope to make the best out of it’.
And Nancy’s stats are proven racing for the Overall WMX win in 2016, Valkenswaard GP, ahead of Duncan, Lancelot with Amandine Verstappen in 4th.
With announcement of MX Fonta Yamaha Racing Kiara Fontanesi withdrawal from WMX Opener, due to complications of illness- the 6x Women MX World Champion will be surely missed.
Kiara’s decision does not rest easy with the inspiring World MX athlete, and although it takes great courage to race MXGP/MX2/WMX Series, it takes even greater courage to make decison to stand down when an Athletes health is at risk.
Line-up of young up-coming talent ready to battle for points comes from Amadine Verstappen, Yamaha along with Larissa Papenmeier, Shana van der Vlist, Stephie Laier, and good to see entry of Australia’s Megan Rutledge in the 40 gate line-up.
With just on 14 Nationalities represented in WMX Opening Round, all out support, Media coverage, promotion and WMX exposure has to be top of billing poll, given only 5 Round Series to showcase Brands/Sponsors/Product Endorsements who all actually enable these Women to race.
As no doubt, WMX R1 and R2 will be worth Watch-Time space.
WMX Opeing Round MXGP of The Netherlands, March 30th, 31st.
Words: Sharon Cox
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