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
ANZAC Day
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Easter Hours
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Kawasaki H2R ridden by Scott Wilkins breaks NZ Landspeed Records
Scott Wilkins is no stranger to speed. With 5 years of Landspeed experience and his team pouring countless hours into perfecting the setup of the Kawasaki Ninja H2R for Landspeed NZ Records – Scott was able to undoubtably etch his name into the record books on Sunday.
The Landspeed New Zealand Association played host for the 2022 Timed Speed Event in the Central Plateau on the 6th of March. The event is in its 5th year having started its creation in 2015 by John Seccombe and a small group of speed enthusiasts. The maximum limit of 40 cars & bikes registered for the Event, with competitors travelling from as far as Dunedin and Kerikeri to take part in the action.
Across the Tag Heuer certified ¼ mile timed section, set in the centre of the 6km stretch of Goudies Road near Reporoa conditions were near perfect. Cloud cover and minimal wind setting the perfect stage for records to be broken.
With the event limited by Covid-19 restrictions and no spectators permitted, the comradery between competitors and supporters was electric. Co-operation and unity common themes of the day with racers bouncing advice off each-other to achieve their best times.
Attendees were seeing green with 3 of the top 5 motorcycle positions held by Kawasakis. The fastest speed was set by Wilkins on a H2R setting 364.5 kph one way and 358.4 kph being the two-way average. Not only did the time eclipse the motorcycle record, it broke all NZ records for wheel-driven vehicles.
Patrick Nussbaum (Turbocharged Suzuki Hayabusa) briefly held the NZ Motorcycle Landspeed record by recording an average two-way speed of 348.35 kph earlier in the day. Cole Scammel rounded out the podium for the day aboard his Turbo’d Suzuki Hayabusa with John Seccombe in 4th aboard a Kawasaki Ninja H2R, battling with a slipping clutch.
First of the naturally aspirated motorcycles was piloted by seasoned campaigner Walter Rands-Trevor. Walter is no stranger to landspeed having experienced Bonneville Salt Flats, USA. He managed to increase his Naturally Aspirated 1050cc NZ Motorcycle record by 1.55kph on the day. This was just enough to log a two-way average speed of 323.35 kph and break the coveted 200mph barrier.
The road to the top hasn’t been easy for Scott Wilkins and his team starting their Landspeed objective in 2017 with each landspeed event since being another milestone toward the ultimate goal. Knowing that minor tweaks to aerodynamics, ECU settings, tyres and bike setup can have major consequences at high-speed, getting as little as 10kph extra while travelling upward of 330kph is a mammoth task.
The years of knowledge within the Team proved indispensable on this journey to NZ Records. Brett Roberts (BRM) expertise to interpret data and tune the bike both in pre-race prep and on the day adjustments proved to be an unbeatable match. As the day wore on, richer mapping was necessary to get the most from the motorcycle – ensuring the possibility for man and machine to make NZ history.
Scott’s father and former Kawasaki New Zealand Owner Mike Wilkins, along with his wife Pam were ecstatic to see the record fall. They purchased the bike in 2016 when Mike retired from his role as Managing Director of Kawasaki NZ.
The “for closed-course only” Kawasaki Ninja H2R is a different animal when compared to the road-legal Ninja H2 and H2 Carbon models, featuring a factory claimed output calculation of 326hp. Scotts Team with the help of Brett Roberts were able to push this phenomenal number even further to over 350hp at the crank. This equated to a 303hp at the wheel in dyno conditions, an achievement in itself with only 998cc of displacement to play with.
From the stock H2R in 2017 with 267 hp at the rear wheel achieving 330.5 kph at the Cliffhanger speed trials in Masterton, to the highly tuned & modified H2R with 350 hp at the engine and 303 hp at the rear wheel achieving 264.5 kph in 2022 on Goudies Road, Reporoa.
Asking team owner & manager Mike what the key thing in achieving his goal was, he replied: “Two things. One; we needed a machine that had the engineering strength to absorb the power increase we gave it. For that we thank Kawasaki and number two; we needed a rider who has the courage and skills to ride the bike at that speed on a 7-metre-wide country road, who else but my son Scott. I am so proud of him.”
Now that Scott and his family’s goal has been realised, he plans on hanging up his boots within the Landspeed discipline. However, Scott has his hands in many pies and is a major driving force in the motorcycling fraternity, particularly within the NZ Flat Track scene so you’re bound to spot him wherever 2 wheels are involved.
FINAL RESULTS Goudies Road Reporoa 6th March 2022
| # | Rider | Bike | One Way Top Speed | Two Way Average |
| 1 | Scott Wilkins | Kawasaki H2R. S/C. 998cc | 364.5 | 358.4 |
| 2 | Patric Nussbaum | Suzuki Hayabusa. T/C 1349cc | 348.4 | 348.35 |
| 3 | Cole Scammel | Suzuki Hayabusa. T/C 1349cc | 336.3 | 333.45 |
| 4 | John Seccombe | Kawasaki H2R. S/C. 998cc | 329.8 | — |
| 5 | Walter Rands-Trevor | Kawasaki ZX10. 998cc | 325.1 | 323.35 |
| 6 | Laurie Vercoe | BMW S1000R. 998cc | 302.1 | 297.1 |
| 7 | Seerwan Jafar | Suzuki GSXR1000R. 998cc | 299.8 | 298.3 |
| 8 | Phillip Le-Haase | Ducati V4-SP. 1103cc | 298.9 | 297.45 |
| 9 | Chrissie Anderson | Ducati 1198SP. 1198cc | 289.1 | 214.3 |
| 10 | Geoff Shaw | Suzuki GSXR1000. 998cc | 281.1 | 279.05 |
| 11 | Paul Grant | Kawasaki ZX7R. 748cc | 275.1 | 264.2 |
| 12 | David Hunter | Ducati 1198 Corsa 1198cc | 271.3 | 263.5 |
| 13 | Ray Harkness | Triumph Daytona. 675cc | 258.7 | 255.95 |
| 14 | Ash Beck | Kawasaki ZZR600.T/C 1993 | 250.2 | 248.25 |
| 15 | Gavin Ure | Moto Morini. 2007 1200cc | 217.2 | 207.75 |
| 16 | Peter Lodge | Norton 1963. ES2 500cc | 211.5 | 202.3 |
| 17 | Jon Kingsley-Smith | Triumph Scrambler.1000cc | 197.9 | 178.65 |
Photo Credit: Steve Knowles
For more information on the Landspeed New Zealand Association visit https://www.landspeed.org.nz
Anniversary Weekend
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Climb starts for Duncan after tough opening round
A less than ideal build up has meant for the first time in seven years, triple World Women’s Motocross (WMX) Champion Courtney Duncan has not won a race at the opening round.
The Palmerston-born Kiwi had been delayed in New Zealand waiting for her visa to come through, meaning she only arrived in Europe days before her first round in Italy.
“It was a difficult weekend to say the least. A P3 and P9 for sixth overall is not how you want to start the championship,” a disappointed Duncan says.
She began her 2022 campaign at the MXGP of Lombardia with a roar, grabbing the holeshot in race one and leading for the first laps. Landing slightly wide on a jump gave Dutch rider Lynn Valk enough of a gap to slip past Duncan.
As the race continued on Duncan’s least preferred surface of sand at the Mantova circuit, Nancy Van De Ven, of the Netherlands, managed to pass her for second.
It would end up being Van De Ven’s round victory as she went on to win race two and claim the red plate. A first corner crash meant Duncan’s second race was effectively doused before it fully began. Although she picked herself up quickly and charged through the pack, ninth was as high as she could get.
“The whole build up wasn’t great with only arriving in Europe this week and trying to acclimatize. I hadn’t ridden my KX250 race bike and went straight into the sand. All that puts you on the back foot and clearly it showed this weekend. I just wasn’t myself,” Duncan says.
If anyone has proved they have what it takes to claw back up to the top, it’s Duncan (25). She put in three long years of hard graft before lifting her first championship trophy in 2019 with Kawasaki’s Bike It Dixon Racing Team (DRT) and she won’t be losing sight of adding a fourth consecutive title after five more WMX rounds in September.
“I need to keep positive. It’s a long season and we’ll build from here,” Duncan vows.
Kawasaki New Zealand’s Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says: “Issues outside of Courtney’s control took its toll over the two races. With a little more preparation and acclimatisation I’m sure we’ll see the characteristic fight we’re used to. Courtney’s fans have been treated to many of her trademark comebacks over her career and this is a position she excels in. I look forward to the next round in Portugal.”
Duncan has a month to regroup before the second WMX round in Portugal on April 2.
WMX – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), 25:10.327; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:06.374; 3. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), +0:06.658; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:34.221; 5. Martine Hughes (NOR, Honda), +0:37.406; 6. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:02.150; 7. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, Yamaha), +1:20.566; 8. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), +1:22.264; 9. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +1:24.444; 10. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:28.519;
WMX – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), 25:38.399; 2. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +0:07.896; 3. Martine Hughes (NOR, Honda), +0:13.879; 4. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +0:17.672; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:30.600; 6. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:35.046; 7. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:51.401; 8. Elisa Galvagno (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:56.345; 9. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), +1:01.276; 10. Mathea Seleboe (NOR, Yamaha), +1:17.014;
WMX – Overall Top 10 Classification: 1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 47 points; 2. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 47 p.; 3. Martine Hughes (NOR, HON), 36 p.; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 34 p.; 5. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 33 p.; 6. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 32 p.; 7. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), 23 p.; 10. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, YAM), 21 p.;
WMX – Championship Top 10 Classification: 1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 47 points; 2. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 47 p.; 3. Martine Hughes (NOR, HON), 36 p.; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 34 p.; 5. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 33 p.; 6. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 32 p.; 7. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 25 p.; 9. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), 23 p.; 10. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, YAM), 21 p.;
WMX – Manufacturers Classification: 1. Yamaha, 50 points; 2. Honda, 36 p.; 3. Kawasaki, 36 p.; 4. KTM, 33 p.; 5. Husqvarna, 19 p.; 6. Suzuki, 16 p.; 7. GASGAS, 1 p.;
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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.
Photo: Kawasaki Eu
Kawasaki unveils new River Mark corporate identity symbol
A company with over 120 years of heritage, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), encompasses manufacturing enterprises focusing on sea, land, air and even into deep space. Following the announcement of the creation of a new company within the Kawasaki group created to solely focus on the manufacture of motorcycles and stand-alone engines, Kawasaki Motors Ltd is now rolling out a new corporate identity which reflects both the heritage aspect of this global enterprise and to symbolise optimism of the future.
The River Mark – which is a stylised representation of the Japanese character meaning River – first appeared in the 1870’s at which time it was seen on the flags of ships owned by the Kawasaki Tsukiji Shipyard, the forerunner to Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Being formed by Shōzō Kawasaki in 1878, the company first concentrated on ship building fulfilling the desire for Japan to export goods, and for the island nation to take its place on the international trading arena. With a solid reputation for marine innovation and construction quality, the ambitious company soon expanded into civil engineering, rolling stock and steam engine manufacture finally breaking the bounds of earth by creating its first aircraft.
At key points during the century plus evolution of this vast company with its global reach and reputation, the River Mark has been used, its application being restricted to Kawasaki’s most significant products of their time. In the modern era, the River Mark once more came to prominence as it appeared boldly on the cowlings of the unique to Kawasaki, Ninja H2 and Ninja H2R machines powered by their in-house designed and manufactured supercharged engines unveiled in 2015.
Now, on 6 October 2021, Kawasaki has declared that the time is right to adopt the famous River Mark as its Corporate Identity symbol and for this simple yet effective round logo to be the main identifying symbol for the combined efforts of its many companies and their diverse products in both commercial and public consumer environments.
Commenting on the roll out of the new logo, Mr Masaya Tsuruno, Managing Director of Kawasaki Motors Europe said:
“The world has changed immeasurably in the century plus history of the Kawasaki company – none more so that in the past few years. As we roll out our new corporate identity with the River Mark at its core, we look to take a next, bold step in terms of technology and engineering as well as enhancing the lives of countless people around the world with a focus on sustainability and emerging green technologies. While some things change others remain constant such as our commitment to be the best in our chosen fields; the River Mark is a fitting symbol of this commitment.”
