Women MX World Championship Round 3 heads to MXGP of Loket in 3 weeks- July 28th where WMX riders will put goals to the test for highly sought after points, podiums and R1 – R2 wins.
And WMX Round 3 will matter. With long 10 week gap after WMX Round 2 at Agueda, Portugal, riders have moved forward in preparation, training and racing in different corners of the globe.
Red Plate holder Courtney Duncan opted to return to NZ home, base and zone locking in hours at gym, on cycle, at track- now in NZ’s winter which is stark contrast from WMX riders based in northern hemisphere back in Europe.
Duncan out-performed WMX peers winning Opening Round Race 1 at Valkenswaard GP only to come un-done in R2, crashing on down-hill jump handing Overall win to French racer Amandine Verstappen.
Not willing to sucummb to any more mistakes, #151 took double wins at WMX Round 2 at MXGP of Portugal, this time Verstappen lost grip of Red Plate finishing WMX Championship standings 4th Overall. Making most of week-gaps, Amandine has raced French Women MX Championship, and leads the Series knowing enough race-time, confidence boost, and adrenalin flows has been achieved prior to WMX Round 3.
With WMX Championship table points close: Duncan 89, Nancy Van De Ven 85 and Larissa Papenmeier 82 alot is at stake with the 2nd and 3rd place Yamaha riders no newbie’s having raced at the Czech circuit in 2017.
With Duncan going 1-2 at the 2017 WMX MXGP of Loket taking the Overall, it was tie and count-back with Verstappen taking R2 win and Dutch racer Nancy van de Ven pulling solid 3-3 for 3rd podium step.
Notwithstanding Van de Ven’s 2nd place in this years WMX fight up front, Nancy is all heart, is so measured in her approach to race-craft and has that many years of GP experience that it would be hard to not count #85 up front.
Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier has shone under switch to Yamaha, taking 3rd podiums at both Valkenswaard and Agueda along with win at French Women MX Round plus racing Ladies MX Cup and MX2 against the guys back home. Starts are certainly Lare’s strong point, as is hard-pack which gives #423 the nod for nailing hole-shot and clearing a gap in early laps.
And what a great battle between up-coming younger Women racers with KTM Dutch rider Shana van der Vlist standing 6th Overall on 61 points, just shy of 2 point from 16 year old Lynn Valk on 63.
These women have really put it out there in gap weeks, racing European Women MX Championships 5 Round Series. Shana certainly excelled with race-time, loving the competition against WMX 2x Champion Steffi Laier who took the EMX Women Overall Title.
The petite Van der Vlist nailed 5 wins over 5 Rounds finishing runner-up 2nd Overall and Valk smile in place claimed 3rd Overall. Lynn has plenty to be proud of this season, as solid 5th Overall at MXGP of Portugal gives all wake-up call that this teenager is there to be counted- not make up numbers.
Danish rider Sara Andersen made deliberate decision to race at home, slotting in 2 EMX Women Rounds at home track at Slagelse followed by Germany’s venue of Reutlingen. It was good call as Andersen raced for 1-1 winning Round 3 then completed 1-2 at Round 4. For sure #325 has depth of focus to achieve set goals heading into WMX Round 3 at Loket.
Not to be out-done, Line Dine heralds Denmark’s WMX rider duo racing Honda CRF 250 standing 7th in WMX Championship having posted 4th Overall in EMX Women Series. Line is one-of-a-kind making most of enjoying racing, loving atmosphere of riding in front of family, friends and fans whether at home or at GP’s.
And, other side of globe has seen America’s Avrie Berry plenty busy notching up Championship Titles in Canada’s Triple Crown Women’s Arena Cross and just last weekend winning Women’s West MX Nationals 4 Round Series.
To race 3 Championship Series in one season is no mean feat, and in 2 different continents, time-zones and under 2 Race Teams has to be admired. Currently standing 16th in WMX, Avrie is certainly clocking up race-time, ramping up level of adaptability and honing race-craft skills on all track terrains.
All of which points to an exciting WMX Round 3 at MXGP of Loket, July 28th.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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