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Duncan signs off 2022 with double victories
5 September 2022
It might not have been the fourth FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship title that New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan was aiming for, but a final round victory in Turkey left her rivals under no illusion that she’ll be back with a vengeance in 2023.
Arriving at the MXGP Of Turkey in Afyonkarahisar, following a two-and-a-half-month break in the series’ revised calendar, Duncan quickly demonstrated that she meant business. She topped the first timed practice and went on to win both WMX races.
Duncan says she came into this final round “wanting to finish the season off strong and with a 1-1 we were able to do that, so from that side, it was good.”
“Tough season though, and we are naturally disappointed to lose the crown but proud to keep fighting all the way to the end,” she adds.
Big Van World MTX Kawasaki rider Courtney Duncan (#1) charges hard off the WMX start line in Turkey. PHOTO CREDIT: MXGP
The Big Van World MTX Kawasaki rider, from Otago, had returned to New Zealand to train in her home country following a round win at the series fourth instalment in Spain at the end of May. She had elected to sit out the third outing in Sardinia after breaking her collarbone in April’s second WMX round in Portugal.
Duncan says that she is “gutted that the season is over.”
“With having the injury mid-season, I feel like I’m only getting started and just want to keep racing and building. Next year can’t come quick enough!”
Notching up her third race win for the season yesterday lifted Duncan to seventh in the final WMX standings, with 129 points. Dutchwoman Nancy Van De Ven ended Duncan’s three-consecutive-year winning streak and finally became the 2022 WMX World Champion.
The first title holder from Holland and only the fifth Women’s World Champion, Van De Ven joined multi-time champions and legends of the sport Livia Lancelot, Stephanie Laier, Kiara Fontanesi and Duncan – who have been winners since the series officially became recognised as a World Championship 13 years ago.
While the season belongs to Van De Ven, Turkey was Duncan’s for the taking and in race one, she grabbed the holeshot. After getting caught up with another rider on the second corner, the Kiwi Kawasaki rider dropped back to fifth, allowing Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier to take over first place.
Duncan moved back into the lead after a quick back and forth exchange with Papenmeier on lap 3. The pair pushed each other until the end and finished first and second with Duncan crossing the finish line a mere 0:04.187 secs ahead.
In the second heat, Duncan secured the holeshot again as she led the way in front of Italy’s Elisa Galvagno, Papenmeier, and Dutchwoman Shana Van der Vlist.
The Kiwi then left her competitors to fight it out for the rest of the race and comfortably led the way to charge past the chequered flag first.
It gave Duncan the top step of the final round podium with the perfect 1-1 score card ahead of Papenmeier, who was second, while Denmark’s Sara Andersen was third.
In terms of the WMX Championship standings, Van De Ven was crowned as World Champion after finishing second for the last four years in a row, while Valk secured second, and Papenmeier took third.
Kawasaki New Zealand’s Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says it must have been a “bittersweet weekend for Courtney.”
“She stamped her dominance in Turkey with a 1-1 result but lost out on winning four consecutive championships because of her early-season injury. Covid hindered Courtney’s pre-season preparation, and she only arrived in Europe days before the first round. She can be proud of what she’s achieved this season despite the setbacks.”
“We look forward to seeing her head home over summer, where she can reset and refocus on regaining the title in 2023,” he says.
Results
WMX – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 25:50.372; 2. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:04.187; 3. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +0:19.706; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:28.122; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:31.813; 6. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:32.612; 7. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, KTM), +0:34.088; 8. Charli Cannon (AUS, Yamaha), +0:36.062; 9. Martine Hughes (NOR, Honda), +0:44.305; 10. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +0:51.330;
WMX – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 25:11.376; 2. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +0:04.502; 3. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:12.989; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:14.077; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:16.209; 6. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +0:18.403; 7. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, KTM), +0:19.024; 8. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:33.242; 9. Elisa Galvagno (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:47.982; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, Honda), +0:54.561;
WMX – Overall Top 10 Classification: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 50 points; 2. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 40 p.; 3. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 38 p.; 4. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 35 p.; 5. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 33 p.; 6. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 32 p.; 7. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 28 p.; 9. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), 20 p.; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 19 p.;
WMX – Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 201 points; 2. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 183 p.; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 172 p.; 4. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 168 p.; 5. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 138 p.; 6. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 134 p.; 7. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 129 p.; 8. Martine Hughes (NOR, HON), 114 p.; 9. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, YAM), 110 p.; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 102 p.;
WMX – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Yamaha, 229 points; 2. KTM, 203 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 178 p.; 4. Honda, 147 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 44 p.; 6. Fantic, 35 p.; 7. GASGAS, 7 p.;
Words: Catherine Pattison
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Comeback queen Duncan returns from injury to win MXGP of Spain
30 May 2022
New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan cemented herself as the reigning comeback queen at the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship’s (WMX) penultimate MXGP of Spain round, where she secured overall victory.
The Big Van World MTX Kawasaki rider, who hails from Otago, overcame a broken collarbone – injured at the second WMX round – to go 1-2 on the hardpack circuit of Intu-Xanadù – Arroyomolinos.
Although achieving a four-peat of world title is out of her grasp due to missing the third round a fortnight ago, as she allowed her plated collarbone to heal properly, Duncan still gave the Spanish races everything she had this weekend.
In race one Duncan had a strong start, moving quickly from third to second on the opening lap.
Home-country Spanish rider Daniela Guillén made several attempts to get around Duncan in the following laps. She was close on a couple of occasions, but small mistakes made it difficult to secure the position.
As the race wore on Duncan drew closer to the championship and race leader Dutchwoman Nancy Van De Ven.
At one point both Duncan and Guillen, who were second and third respectively, set an identical lap time of 2:08.337, which at that stage was the race’s fastest lap.
It was in lap 7 that the Kiwi ratcheted up her attack mode and moved around the outside of Van De Ven. Moments later Van De Ven made a mistake which gave Duncan the advantage she was looking for and she dived down the inside. By the next left-hand corner, she went past and into the race lead.
From there the defending and three-time consecutive World Women’s Motocross Champion settled into her work bringing her Kawasaki KX250 home with a 4.241sec advantage over Van De Ven and Guillen.
Duncan says winning her first race was immensely gratifying.
Celebrating her race one win at the MXGP of Spain, New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan flies high. PHOTO CREDIT: MXGP
“Last month I was going under the knife going for surgery and to think I could be on the top step of the box in my first race back was a really proud feeling. I’ve battled through a lot of adversity, so it was cool to push through the other side of it.”
In race two, Duncan grabbed the holeshot as Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier followed closely in second and kept the Kawasaki rider within a close distance.
Spurred on by her country’s motocross fans in the crowd, Spanish rider Guillen passed Duncan for the lead on the 6th lap and held it to the chequered flag.
Duncan finished second ahead of Van De Ven and the 1-2 result gave her enough points for the overall win at her first weekend of racing in 12 weeks. Guillen celebrated on the second step of the box ahead of Van De Ven.
Duncan says she can be proud of her performance this weekend.
“Overall, I’m happy with the weekend. Definitely was a little bit rusty but that’s understandable after being out for a few months. There’s a lot we can take away from this weekend and build on which is exciting. We are not even close to where we can be.”
Cementing her comeback queen status, Courtney Duncan gave it everything to win the MXGP of Spain round. PHOTO CREDIT: MXGP
“Huge thanks to everyone who supports me and I’m just so stoked to fly the Kiwi flag this weekend!” she says.
Duncan was pleased with her decision to sit out the third WMX round.
“My collarbone was really good this weekend because we opted to wait a couple of extra weeks to make it six in total before getting back on the bike. I think looking back at that, it was the smartest thing to do. I’ve been able to train properly since and raced pain-free.”
Duncan will spend the two-and-a-half-month gap in the series’ revised calendar back home in Dunedin, before returning to Europe to contest the fifth and final WMX round, the BitCi MXGP of Turkey on September 3 and 4.
“I’m looking forward to coming home and regrouping, recharging and putting in a lot of work. Hopefully we can be in a better position in the final round in September,” she says.
Kawasaki New Zealand’s Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says: “To say we’re proud of Courtney’s resilience is an understatement. Another gritty ride that ultimately put her on the top step of the podium after injury. The Kawasaki team here are looking forward to seeing her on home soil before she heads back in August for the final round.”
Results:
WMX – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 24:55.386; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:04.241; 3. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), +0:07.797; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:16.116; 5. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, Yamaha), +0:51.750; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:55.859; 7. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, Honda), +1:01.647; 8. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +1:05.898; 9. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:08.092; 10. Mathea Seleboe (NOR, Yamaha), +1:11.259;
WMX – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 24:53.325; 2. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), +0:08.176; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:14.630; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:15.104; 5. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +0:38.348; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:42.774; 7. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:48.586; 8. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, Honda), +1:11.898; 9. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, Yamaha), +1:22.495; 10. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), +1:24.737;
WMX – Overall Top 10 Classification: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 47 points; 2. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 42 p.; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 27 p.; 9. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 23 p.; 10. Mathea Seleboe (NOR, YAM), 20 p.;
WMX – Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 173 points; 2. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 148 p.; 3. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 135 p.; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 132 p.; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 102 p.; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 100 p.; 7. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, YAM), 96 p.; 8. Martine Hughes (NOR, HON), 95 p.; 9. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 85 p.; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 83 p.;
Courtney Duncan on her way to winning the MXGP of Spain. PHOTO CREDIT: KAWASAKI.
2022 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship Calendar
Round 1: Saturday 5 March, MXGP of Lombardia, Mantova, Italy.
Round 2: Saturday 2 April, MXGP of Portugal, Agueda.
Round 3: Saturday 14 May, MXGP of Sardegna, Riola Sardo, Sardinia.
Round 4: Saturday 28 May, MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadú.
Round 5: Saturday 3 September, MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar.
Words: Catherine Pattison
Courtney Duncan to sit out third round of MXGP
13 May 2022
Reigning World Women’s Motocross Champion Courtney Duncan will sit out the third round at the MXGP of Sardegna this weekend to allow her injured collarbone more healing time.
It is a considered decision yet still a bitter blow to the hard-fighting New Zealander who will now not be able to execute a fourth WMX title in a row. She plans to return to the world stage in two weeks’ time at the MXGP of Spain.
“As a racer it can always be a difficult decision knowing when’s the right time to come back, as obviously you don’t want to return too early and step yourself further back. Sitting out the Sardegna GP wasn’t taken lightly but I know it’s the right thing to do, as the recovery would have been rushed and I wouldn’t have been ready. At elite level you need to be at 100 percent to commit to the task and we aren’t there yet,” Duncan says.
While riding in the free practice session at the second round’s MXGP of Portugal early in April, Duncan had a heavy fall from her Kawasaki KX250. Since then, she has had the break in her collarbone plated by a surgeon and spent some time in Southern France with a friend.
“I stayed with a mate for a couple of weeks and it was good to hang out with a friend and take my mind off everything that had happened,” she says.
Ever the focused athlete, Duncan didn’t let her fitness slide and says she was still in the gym twice daily.
She definitely felt the distance from home as she processed how her season will now look, she says. The incredibly unforgiving nature of her chosen sport means the highs are mountaintops, but the lows are ground down in the mud.
“Every contact you have with extreme sport does come with a risk of getting injured. The rewards are huge but the consequences are huge too. It’s something we are aware of when we step onto the turf. That’s the beauty of elite sport.”
While Duncan’s aim was to claim a four-peat title victory, she has accepted that her injury has meant that the goal posts have shifted.
“We can’t change it, so we’ve switched our focus to making a strong comeback to racing for the last two rounds,” Duncan says.
Duncan will fly home to Dunedin in June, making the most of the two-and-a-half-month gap in the series’ revised calendar before returning to Europe to contest the final WMX round in Turkey on September 3.
Kawasaki New Zealand’s Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says: “Although disappointing Courtney will not line up behind the gate this weekend, it’s the reasonable decision. I’m sure that with some time off, we will see a rejuvenated athlete at the final two rounds that will define her 2023 season. For now, we wish Courtney all the best during her recovery and look forward to catching up during her break in June/July after round 4 in Spain.”
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2022 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship Calendar
Round 1: Saturday 5 March, MXGP of Lombardia, Mantova, Italy.
Round 2: Saturday 2 April, MXGP of Portugal, Agueda.
Round 3: Saturday 14 May, MXGP of Sardegna, Riola Sardo, Sardinia.
Round 4: Saturday 28 May, MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadú.
Round 5: Saturday 20 August, MXGP of Charente Maritime, St Jean d’Angely, France.
Round 6: Saturday 3 September, MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar.
Kiwi motocross star Courtney Duncan will focus on a full recovery before returning to racing in two weeks time. Courtney Duncan’s decision to sit out this weekend’s round in Sardinia has been made with the support of her Kawasaki Bike It Dixon Racing Team.
Photos: Monster Energy
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