2020 Women Motocross World Championship will kick start 6 Round Series at MXGP Opener at Matterley Basin in 4 weeks time on March 1st. With strong line-up of Women riders, WMX Round 1 followed by back-to-back Round 2 at Valkenswaard on March 8th, all too important points will be fought after on the track in Britain and 7 days later in the sands of the Netherlands.
2019 defending WMX Champion Courtney Duncan will throw the dice first, knowing what it took to win her first-ever Women MX World Championship Title racing with Bike IT Dixon Racing Team. Close to home base, Duncan will feel comfortable racing the renown British circuit backed by her Team owner Steve Dixon’s 30 year association with the venue.
In fact, it is a while since WMX have raced Matterley Basin GP. Off the calendar as far back as 2012 when WMX 2x Champion Livia Lancelot claimed victory going 2-1 over Italy’s 6x WMX Champion Kiara Fontanesi who finished 2nd with 1-2. Swedish rider Natalie Kane rounded out top 3 with 3-2.
Which brings full circle for Fontanesi who makes come-back appearance for 2020 WMX season having taken year off to give birth to daughter Skyler in November 2019. It will be no surprise that Kiara will run up front, given the Italian has achieved 6x WMX Titles based on sheer force of will to succeed over course of WMX seasons.
If any rider has taken advantage from riding off-season it is Dutch racer Nancy Van de Ven. Looking oh-so-on-the-dial scrubbing jump, as seen in header photo, Nancy proved her ability to fight for the win making short work of Nations Team riders in Women Motocross of European Nations in October 2019. Nancy not only won the Women’s class but also took Overall Nations Team victory with fellow Netherlands rider Shana van der Vlist.
Unfortunately for Shana, a broken wrist earlier in January has put dampner on possibility to start in WMX Round One.
With full-gate of WMX riders, it will be whose put in hard yards over off-season with number of Women opting to train in warmer climes of Spain, and not forgetting NZ.
Larissa Papenmeier, now totally refreshed from debut race experience in MX2 class at MXGP of China end of 2019 MXGP season will be geared to finish in pointy end of standings. And, Amandine Verstappen who switched to Kawasaki end of 2019 will be on the throttle to equal her Round win at Valkenswaard last season.
Mixing it up front will be handful of talented and now more experienced riders with Danish pair Sara Andersen and Line Dam making their mark towards latter Rounds of WMX 2019. Yamaha’s Lynn Valk who finished impessive 6th Overall in ‘019 WMX will be ready to pounce along with some exciting prospects from overseas.
Yes, if confirmed, as entries are still provisonal, America’s Jordan Jarvis is on the list. Wow- this would be fantastic to see Jordan compete in WMX Series having already won America’s 2018 Women MX Championship. Currently competing in AMA Supercross Futures and leading the Women’s class, Jordan stands head and shoulders above all obstacles and challenges that she has endured with the relegation of AMA WMX Championship to Amatuer status in 2019.
And Australia has list as well. 2 sisters- Hannah Bagnall and younger sister Megan Bagnall both on Yamaha will contest WMX for the first time along with fellow YZ rider Madison Brown. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (KTM) will bring the Aussie contingent to 4 racing under Diga WMX Racing.
What a line-up. What anticipation. Worth the wait.
WMX Round 1: Matterley Basin March 1st. Header Photo: Nancy Van de Ven Photo Credit: Nancy.
Words: Sharon Cox.
2012 WMX at MXGP og Great Britain Round 7 of 8 with Livia Lancelot went 2-1 for the Round win, Kiara Fontanesi raced 1-2 for 2nd and Swedish rider Natalie Kane completed top 3 going 3-2.
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