FIM WOMEN’S MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (WMX) MADE ITS MUCH-ANTICIPATED RETURN IN MANTOVA, ITALY, YESTERDAY FOR ROUND THREE, OTAGO’S COURTNEY DUNCAN HAD THE BEST, THEN THE WORST OF RACES.
After a five-month Covid-19-induced break, the Dunedin rider made her comeback in convincing style on the sandy track with a win in the MXGP of Lombardia’s opening race.
The shortened race programme meant the WMX field lined up only hours later for their second race. Duncan (24) who rides for the English Kawasaki Dixon Racing Team had made her way up to second place when she had what she described as a “massive crash.” The impact over the jump was heavy enough to destroy the handlebars of her new 2021 Kawasaki KX250, leaving an uninjured but devastated Duncan unable to finish the race and collect any championship points.
She had gone into this round with a five-point lead over Larissa Papenmeier but the tables have now been turned with the German rider emerging as the round winner and taking over the championship’s red plate. She sits on 129 points, with Duncan holding on in fourth with 115 points.
Duncan took away the maximum 25 points in the first race after wasting no time moving into the lead. She then kept the hammer down to take an impressive win by 15.9secs from runner-up Papenmeier and Italy’s Kiara Fontanesi.
“It was an up and down day for me, which started off really well as I won the first race and felt pretty good. I had a comfortable lead and maintained it,” Duncan says.
In the second race, although she “didn’t get the best of starts” she quickly charged through to second, chasing the leader Nancy Van De Ven, of The Netherlands. Disaster struck as Duncan had a huge crash on one of the table tops, with her bike taking most of the impact. The damage to her Kawasaki meant the defending world champion was unable to fight back and was forced out of the race, which ultimately cost her the championship lead too.
“I’d made some passes on the opening laps and made my way into second. I wasn’t too far off the lead when I had a massive crash. I ran back to the bike but the handlebars were snapped so there was no way of finishing, which resulted in a DNF,” Duncan says
She only has a short timeframe to regroup with the WMX racing in Italy in only two days’ time on September 30. The MXGP of Città di Mantova, will be held at Mantova circuit again and the tough Kiwi will be fighting to regain the red plate.
“That’s the way life goes sometimes it doesn’t always go to plan. I can dwell on it, or I can go back to work on Tuesday and continue to fight. That’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to show up on Tuesday and give it everything I’ve got,” Duncan says.
Kawasaki New Zealand Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says: “It was great to watch Courtney race the new 2021 KX250 in dominating fashion in the first race at the MXGP Lombardia. The Kawasaki NZ team hope that she is feeling ok after her race 2 crash and we wish her all the best to regroup and finish out the season strong.”
The fifth and final WMX round will be held in Italy again, on November 1.
WMX – Race 1 – Classification: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 25:35.691; 2. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:15.958; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, KTM), +0:23.592; 4. Line Dam (DEN, Yamaha), +0:37.053; 5. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:43.306; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:48.586; 7. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +1:02.542; 8. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), +1:12.401; 9. Jamie Astudillo (USA, KTM), +1:20.477; 10. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:22.457.
WMX – Race 2 – Classification: 1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), 26:01.397; 2. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:07.758; 3. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:12.095; 4. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +0:15.000; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, KTM), +0:15.764; 6. Line Dam (DEN, Yamaha), +0:32.515; 7. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +0:33.558; 8. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, KTM), +1:21.203; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:44.215; 10. Sandra Keller (SUI, KTM), +2:00.745.
WMX – Overall Classification: 1. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 44 points; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 41 p.; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, KTM), 36 p.; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 35 p.; 5. Line Dam (DEN, YAM), 33 p.; 6. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 32 p.; 7. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 25 p.; 8. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 25 p.; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 21 p.; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, KTM), 18 p.
WMX – Championship Classification: 1. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 129 points; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 119 p.; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, KTM), 116 p.; 4. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 115 p.; 5. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 98 p.; 6. Line Dam (DEN, YAM), 87 p.; 7. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 75 p.; 8. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 60 p.; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 60 p.; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, KTM), 54 p.
PHOTO: Kawasaki Dixon Racing Team’s Courtney Duncan, of New Zealand, had a win and a DNF at the third round of the FIM Motocross World Championship’s MXGP of Lombardia. CREDIT MXGP.
Revised Women’s Motocross World Championship calendar
September 27 – MXGP Lombardia, Mantova circuit, Italy
September 30 – MXGP of Città di Mantova, Mantova circuit, Italy
November 1 – MXGP of Trentino, Pietramurata, Italy
Words: Catherine Pattison
WOMEN’S WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMP DUNCAN RETURNS TO EUROPE TO CONTINUE TITLE DEFENCE
The long wait is over and New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan has packed her bags and returned to Europe this week to continue her Women’s Motocross World Championship (WMX) title defence.
She has been home in Dunedin since March, flying back after the second WMX round in The Netherlands, with a five-point lead over her closest rival. Since then the MXGP calendar has been affected by Covid-19 and Duncan (24) has been waiting on a green light for the women’s racing to resume.Her final three rounds are all scheduled to take place in Italy. The first two meetings on September 27 (MXGP Lombardia) and September 30 (MXGP of Città di Mantova), which are both held on the hard sand Mantova track, are following the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship’s new racing format of mid-week races.
Duncan will remain in Europe and train towards the final Italian round – the MXGP of Trentino on November 1 – where she is targeting her name being re-engraved on the winner’s trophy for 2020.
“I’d be lying if I said I was happy with just one world championship. I want another one and that’s what I’m aiming towards. I want to go over there and ride to the best of my ability. I’ll be putting myself in good positions to score some strong finishes and the rest will come,” Duncan says.
She flew to England yesterday, to re-join her Kawasaki Dixon Racing Team at their Portsmouth base. Her self-isolation time will be happily spent getting straight onto her new 2021 Kawasaki KX250F and turning out some test laps at the team’s track.
“Kawasaki have bought out a whole new bike. It will be cool to go over there a few weeks early and get comfortable on it,” Duncan says.
She has borne the frustration of previous WMX races, such as the recent round in Turkey, being scheduled then scrapped, with her characteristic philosophical approach.
“Everything happens for a reason. I’m excited for the new schedule.”
“To be honest, I’ve just enjoyed being home training back in New Zealand and I made the most of the local tracks.”
Duncan was even able to enter a national race meeting for the first time in three years, competing at the King of Central in Cromwell in July. Easily winning her four races against both the MX2 men and in the women’s class, the race-pace outings gave her the edge she needed to head back into battle mode.
“There’s nothing like racing itself and getting behind the gate a few times. You learn different things in racing that you don’t pick up in practise. Even though this was a local event, it still got my adrenaline pumping and gave me an appetite for what I’ve got coming up in Italy,” Duncan says.
Kawasaki New Zealand Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says: “After what has been an uncertain year, I am excited by the news that the WMX championship is resuming again after round two.
While it has been exciting to watch Courtney train and race on local soil over the break, myself and the team at Kawasaki NZ would like to wish the champ all the best for the third round. As always, we will be cheering Courtney on from the other side of the globe!”
After double wins in the season opener and 4-2 results at the second round, Duncan leads the WMX series with 90 points. Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier is in second place on 85 points, while six-time world champion Kiara Fontanesi, of Italy, is third with 80 points.
“Thanks to my supporters and sponsors for everything you do for me. I’ll do my best to bring the world number one title back home to New Zealand for you all again come November,” Duncan says.
PHOTOS: New Zealand’s Kawasaki Dixon Racing Team rider Courtney Duncan finally has the green light to return to racing in Europe where she will defend her Women’s Motocross World Championship title over three more rounds.
2020 Women’s Motocross World Championship points
| 1 | 1 | Duncan, Courtney. | NZL | KAW | 90 |
| 2 | 423 | Papenmeier, Larissa. | GER | YAM | 85 |
| 3 | 8 | Fontanesi, Kiara. | ITA | KTM | 80 |
| 4 | 85 | Van De Ven, Nancy. | NED | YAM | 78 |
| 5 | 172 | Valk, Lynn | NED | YAM | 66 |
Revised Women’s Motocross World Championship calendar
September 27 – MXGP Lombardia, Mantova circuit, Italy
September 30 – MXGP of Città di Mantova, Mantova circuit, Italy
November 1 – MXGP of Trentino, Pietramurata, Italy
Photos: Kawasaki Europe, MXGP
Words: Catherine Pattison
MOUNT MAUNGANUI’S JOSIAH NATZKE (TRANSDIESEL SHELL ADVANCE KAWASAKI KX250)
Being the fastest man in the country and with the most race wins does not always make you a champion and that was a bitter pill to swallow for Bay of Plenty’s Josiah Natzke at the weekend.
It was a fierce fourth and final round of this season’s New Zealand Motocross Championships in Taupo on Sunday and perhaps the most ferocious of them all was Transdiesel Shell Advance Kawasaki Racing Team rider Natzke.
The 21-year-old from Mount Maunganui arrived at Taupo’s popular Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park second in the MX2 (250cc) class standings, just four points behind Mangakino racer Maximus Purvis, and with everything still to fight for.
Natzke had led the series from the opening round, but he lost that advantage at round three in Hawke’s Bay when another rider slammed into him at the start of one of his races, forcing Natzke to battle back from nearly a lap behind. He carved his way through traffic and finished eighth in that fateful race, his worst result of the series and one that would ultimately cost him the title.
When Purvis finished runner-up in both of the day’s first two MX2 races at Taupo on Sunday, while Natzke finished third in race one and then won race two, it set up an intriguing scenario – whomever of these two riders won the day’s final MX2 race would take the title for 2020.
Purvis rocketed into the lead in that final race and never looked back, although, if he had, he would have seen Natzke on another furious charge through traffic.
It was an inspiring performance from Natzke, once again proving himself one of the fastest men on the race track as he clawed his way to the No.2 spot, but unfortunately, this was not quite enough and he had to settle for the runner-up position overall for the championships, finishing the series just six points behind Natzke.
Third overall for the MX2 championship was Oparau’s James Scott.
The MX2 class in particular was bulging with talent and six different riders celebrated race wins during the series – Natzke the most prolific, with
four race wins to his credit over the four-round, 12-race series.
Purvis, Christchurch’s Dylan Walsh and Australian Kyle Webster (who raced only at round two and three) each scored two race wins, while Scott and Australian Caleb Ward each won one race.
Natzke had consistently been one of the fastest men all season, often eclipsing even the best of the MX1 class riders (who were on 350cc and 450cc bikes), but outright speed does not always translate into trophies, especially when you often don’t have luck on your side.
“I needed a better start in that last race. Purvis got in front at the start and broke away. I managed to reel him in near the end, but it wasn’t enough,” said Natzke.
“I should have won the championship, but I was beaten fair and square today,” he graciously said.
“I had been racing in Europe for five years before this and it wasn’t really a dream for me. I was sitting in my apartment by myself in Europe, feeling miserable. I was almost in a depressed state.
“Then I made the decision to come home and race for the Kawasaki team here and it was so cool. (Team management) Mike Cotter and Shane Verhoeven were so great and gave me so much energy and motivation. To look at where I’ve come from I’m so stoked about that.
“I wanted to win so bad today, but I’ll take this result on the chin and move forward now.”
It may be some consolation to Natzke that his 2019-20 season has been dotted with highlights – he won the MX2 class at the season-starting MX Fest event at Taupo last October and then also won the 2019 New Zealand Supercross Championships in the SX2 class, that competition wrapping up in November. He then also won the MX2 class at the 48th annual Whakatane Summercross motocross event near Matata in late December.
Natzke has plans to race for Kawasaki in Australia later this year but that is now on hold with worldwide fears of coronavirus impacting so many sporting competitions.
Meanwhile, in the MX1 class, visiting Australian Kirk Gibbs enjoyed a five-point buffer over Mount Maunganui’s defending national MX1 champion Cody Cooper at Taupo and, although Cooper won the final round, Gibbs did enough to clinch the title by four points.
There was no stopping Tauranga’s Brodie Connolly from winning the 125cc class crown. In total, he won nine of the 12 races over the four rounds, taking the title ahead of Tauranga’s Madoc Dixon and Auckland’s Cobie Bourke.
Natzke is supported by Kawasaki NZ, Transdiesel, Shell Advance Lubricants, Mainstream, Bridgestone, Rekluse, Alpinestars, 100%, Un4Seen Graphics, Pro Circuit, Moto HQ, Polisport, Koromiko Engineering, RK Chains, CFX Seats, Goodbuzz, Renthal Handlebars and MTX Sprockets.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
OTAGO'S COURTNEY DUNCAN STILL LEADING THE WOMEN’S MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (WMX) ON POINTS.
At only 24-years-old Duncan has a wise head on young shoulders and was philosophical about how the two races panned out.
“It was a difficult weekend for me. From winning a lot lately you realise that losing isn’t fun. I got beaten straight up this weekend and it hurt. Nothing like a little motivation moving forward though,” she says.
A fourth in the first race at the MXGP of the Netherlands was not the way the defending champion wanted to start her weekend.
“The first moto was not good – I got fourth. They really checked out on me as well. I didn’t have a great feeling but I didn’t do anything stupid. When I wasn’t feeling good, I just took a fourth,” Duncan comments on not trying to force a podium result on her 2020 Kawasaki KX250.
With six-time WMX Championship winner Italy’s Kiara Fontanesi first to the chequered flag, followed by Duncan’s other main rivals Dutchwoman Nancy Van De Ven in second and Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier rounding out the podium, the Kiwi had some ground to make up the following day.
“Obviously it fired me up. I had a better day and got second. For me, to be able to turn a really bad day around yesterday, to a somewhat good day today, is a real positive.”
Papenmeier won the second moto and Van De Ven was a close third. The results after the Netherlands round see Kawasaki Dixon Race Team rider Duncan still ahead by 5 points on 90, with Papenmeier on 85 and Fontenesi a further 5 back on 80.
Duncan now flies home to New Zealand to continue her training in between WMX races, with the MXGP of Spain held on April 18 and 19 and she’s not going to beat herself up about the fourth overall finish for the second round.
“You can’t always win. It was just one of those days and one of those weekends where I got beaten by better competition on the day. I don’t need to worry too much about it, as we knew these conditions were going to be tough for me. The wet heavy sand has never been one of my strong points. I definitely need to work on that area.”
One of the main disadvantages of being a New Zealander and being based at home in the off-season was not having the European tracks to practise on over winter. Many of Duncan’s rivals spend those months honing their skills in the sand, while she has to make the best of it come race weekend.
However, Duncan was quick to find the silver lining moving forward.
“We are in a good position and we have a big break now, so I can get some solid time in. There’s plenty of positives to take away from the weekend. If you look at last year, I left Valkensward 5 points down and this year I still have a 5-point lead in the championship. We made the best out of a bad weekend.”
Kawasaki New Zealand Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says: “We’re extremely proud to see Courtney ride smart and calculated motos in Valkenswaard. The track was extremely difficult and featured tough conditions we would not often see in New Zealand so to come away with the lead heading into the MXGP of Spain next month is testament to Courtney’s maturity and racecraft.”
WMX Championship standings after round one
| 1 | 1 | Duncan, C. | NZL | KAW | 90 |
| 2 | 423 | Papenmeier, L. | GER | YAM | 85 |
| 3 | 8 | Fontanesi, K. | ITA | KTM | 80 |
| 4 | 85 | Van De Ven, N. | NED | YAM | 78 |
| 5 | 172 | Valk, Lynn | NED | YAM | 66 |
2020 Women’s Motocross World Championship’s calendar
01 March MXGP of Great Britain – Matterley Basin
08 March MXGP of The Netherlands Valkenswaard
19 April MXGP of Spain intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos
17 May MXGP of Italy Maggiora
06 September MXGP of Turkey Afyonkarahisar
20 September MXGP of Emilia Romagna (Italy) Imola
—
Photos: Kawasaki Europe
Words: Catherine Pattison
DEFENDING WOMEN’S WORLD MOTOCROSS CHAMPION (WMX) COURTNEY DUNCAN HAS BEGUN HER 2020 CAMPAIGN WITH A DOUBLE VICTORY THIS WEEKEND
Battling through deep mud and ruts at the season-opening MXGP Great Britain at the popular British circuit of Matterley Basin, 24-year-old Otago motocross queen Duncan bagged the maximum 50 points on offer over the two races on her 2020 Kawasaki KX250. Riding for the England-based Kawasaki Dixon Race Team, she was the first to admit she took some time to warm into her winning ways.
“I’m happy to go 1- 1 here at the opener. I felt a little bit rusty. A little bit off the pace but that’s a given, since I haven’t raced in six months. I’m very happy to walk away with the full 50 points and I think we can be proud of that especially given the conditions – they weren’t easy. They were pretty difficult out there with a lot of mud,” she says.
In the first WMX race, Duncan got a good start, but her time in the lead was cut short as Dutchwoman Nancy Van De Ven, applied the pressure and jumped into the lead in the opening lap of the race. Meanwhile the returning six-time WMX champion Italy’s Kiara Fontanesi was not far behind in third. In the later stages, Sara Andersen, of Denmark was chasing Duncan and Van De Ven before crashing on the finish jump and with 8 minutes to go, Van De Ven found herself in trouble which allowed Duncan to gain back the lead. The New Zealand rider went on to comfortably win the race by 11.56 seconds over Fontanesi, with Lynn Valk, of the Netherlands in third.
In the second race, Duncan got into the same groove that saw her win nine out the ten WMX races last season and she stormed through to the chequered flag, claiming victory by just over 5 seconds from Germany’s Larissa Papenmeier.
Kawasaki New Zealand Managing Director Shane Verhoeven says: “We’re incredibly proud and excited to see Courtney continue this season with the same blistering form that saw her take home last year’s championship. While the track conditions were testing on the iconic Matterley Basin track, Courtney rose to the challenge on her 2020 KX250 to assert her dominance on the field.”
Duncan heads to the Valkenswaard track in the Netherlands this coming weekend for round two of six in this season’s WMX, with the championship leader’s red plate and the confidence that she’s got plenty more left in the tank.
“I’m stoked to get the first round win, I couldn’t ask for more. I can only go up from here. My goal is to just continue to improve and I think I can do that. The more bike time I get on the race bike with testing, I can up the pace. I look at improving each day and each race as it comes,” she says.
WMX Championship standings after round one
| 1 | 1 | Duncan, C. | NZL | KAW | 50 |
| 2 | 423 | Papenmeier, L. | GER | YAM | 40 |
| 3 | 8 | Fontanesi, K. | ITA | KTM | 37 |
| 4 | 85 | Van De Ven, N. | NED | YAM | 36 |
| 5 | 172 | Valk, Lynn | NED | YAM |
36 |
2020 Women’s Motocross World Championship’s calendar
01 March MXGP of Great Britain – Matterley Basin
08 March MXGP of The Netherlands Valkenswaard
19 April MXGP of Spain intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos
17 May MXGP of Italy Maggiora
06 September MXGP of Turkey Afyonkarahisar
20 September MXGP of Emilia Romagna (Italy) Imola.
JONATHAN REA AND ALEX LOWES EACH SCORED A CLOSE RACE VICTORY ON THE SECOND DAY OF THE OPENING ROUND OF THE 2020 WORLDSBK CHAMPIONSHIP
The final race of the weekend, over 22-laps, featured up to nine riders in the leading group, even at half race distance, but it was Lowes and Rea who made the decisive moves to go 1-2 in warm and dry conditions. Lowes was just 0.037 seconds ahead of Rea across the line, with Scott Redding 0.849 seconds behind Alex.
As temperatures rose for the final long race the leading bunch were closely packed but even as riders dropped off the group one by one there were four potential race winners again with just a couple flaps to go.
In the ten-lap Tissot-Superpole race, held at 12.00 noon today, Rea showed all his five time championship winning quality to pass race leader Toprak Razgatlioglu and hold on across the line for his first win of the year. Lowes, so close to being the opening race winner on Saturday, was fourth in the sprint race, just over 0.2 seconds from his new team-mate.
Rea’s Superpole race victory was particularly poignant as he received news overnight of the passing of his maternal grandmother back home in Northern Ireland. He dedicated his 89th career race win to his family.
In both races constant overtakes and aggressive passes were commonplace as the 2020 season started in an incredibly competitive fashion.
After his strong debut weekend on the Ninja ZX-10RR Lowes now leads the championship with 51 points. Rea is fourth overall on 32 points after his race one no-score on Saturday.
Qatar will now host the next round of the championship, under the floodlights at the Losail International Circuit, between 13 and 15 March.
Alex Lowes, stated: “I knew when it got a lot hotter it was going to play into our hands as Marcel, my crew chief, had forced me to work really hard on old tyres in practice! When the grip dropped I knew I was going to be more comfortable than the other guys. In the second race there were so many people hitting everybody, Johnny trying to control the pace and Baz hit me a few times. It was hard just to stay calm but each time by past the pitbox I said to myself, ‘relax, stay calm, you have go the pace for the next ten laps – relax, relax.’ In the end, luckily, I had a bit more grip than the other guys and won race two. A great start here with Kawasaki. Obviously this track is a little bit strange so I need to just enjoy the moment, go to Qatar and refresh. We will see how we stack up but I am really happy with the first weekend.”
Jonathan Rea, stated: “I got a good start in the Superpole race and put my head down. It seemed like I was really setting the rhythm with a few laps to go. Toprak was showing me his front wheel, so I knew he was there. On the last lap, throwing the bike down the inside line, I knew I had a little bit more traction. I really wanted to win that Superpole race for my family. It would have been nice to do it again in that second one but it was very strange race. I did not have the experience of doing 22 laps from race one on Saturday. I was not sure how the bike would be. The temperature went to 45°C on track today too. Nobody seemed to want to come through and do the work. I set about my rhythm and with five laps to go I put my head down – but as soon as I completed this lap I felt a drop in the tyre again. Alex got by me and made a gap and although I had a close ride up to him on the last lap it was just not enough to get to the line first. We got to Qatar now and see what that brings. Yesterday we were 25 points behind, today we are 19 behind, so a positive day all-in-all after yesterday.”
Xavi Fores (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was 12th and 11th today, to sit 14th overall. Maximilian Scheib (Orelac Racing VerdNatura Kawasaki) had a very strong Sunday; finishing tenth in the Superpole race and then seventh in race two for 11th overall in the championship standings. Sandro Cortese (Outdo Kawasaki TPR) was 11th and then ninth in the races, for 12th place after the opening round.
2020 KRT Rider WorldSBK Statistics
Jonathan Rea: World Champion 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019
2020: Races 3, Wins 1, Podiums 2, Superpoles 0
Career Race Wins: 89 (74 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 170 (128 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 23 (19 for Kawasaki)
Alex Lowes:
2020: Races: 3, Wins 1, Podiums 2, Superpoles 0
Career Race Wins: 2 (1 for Kawasaki)
Career Podiums: 22 (2 for Kawasaki)
Career Poles: 1 (0 for Kawasaki)
7 x Riders’ Championships (Scott Russell 1993, Tom Sykes 2013, Rea 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019), 1 x EVO Riders’ Championship (David Salom 2014)
5 x Manufacturers’ Championships (Ninja ZX-10R 2015 & 2016, Ninja ZX-10RR 2017, 2018 & 2019)
5 x Teams’ Championships (KRT/Provec Racing 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019)
Kawasaki FIM Superbike World Championship Statistics
Total Kawasaki Race Wins: 148 – second overall
Total Kawasaki Podiums: 437 – second overall
Total Kawasaki Poles: 88 – second overall
#NinjaSpirit
#Rea5stars
Words and Photos credit: Kawasaki Europe
THE FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BEGINS WITH THE FIRST OF TWENTY ROUNDS ORGANISED AT MATTERLEY BASIN IN THE UK.
FEBRUARY 28, 2020:
For the first time since 2015 the opening round of the world series will take place in Europe; Matterley Basin, which will host this first GP of the season, is one of the most popular tracks on the schedule and everyone will be excited to be behind the starting gate again.
The factory Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team has achieved good results in each of the pre-season races which they entered and both Belgium’s Clément Desalle and France’s Romain Febvre aim to bring back a host of trophies to the workshop this season; it has been several years since KRT lined up two established MXGP winners and both riders showed with podium results at Lacapelle Marival in France two weeks ago that they are fully recovered from their 2019 injuries.
Alongside the factory squad Kawasaki Motors Europe will also support three teams involved in the MX2, WMX and EMX250 classes. The Dutch-based team F&H will focus exclusively on the MX2 World Championship with a trio of young talented riders from all over Europe with current EMX250 champion Roan van de Moosdijk from the Netherlands, his predecessor Mathys Boisrame from France and Danish teenager Mikkel Haarup, each of whom enjoyed podium celebrations last season.
Reigning Women’s World Champion Courtney Duncan from New Zealand continues her successful relationship with the Dixon Racing Team which will also be involved in the MX2 class this year with Wilson Todd; the Australian champion will make his racing debut in Europe this weekend.
American Mitchell Harrison, who successfully absolved this baptism last year, will defend the colours of BUD Racing. The French team will be involved in three different classes this summer with Mitchell in MX2, young Frenchman Pierre Goupillon in EMX250 and French champion Amandine Verstappen in WMX; the Belgian girl, who recorded her maiden world victory at last year’s season-opener, will have a teammate this weekend as BUD will also support American Jordan Jarvis.
After this opening round in the UK the World Championship will visit sixteen further countries including Argentina, Indonesia and China throughout the summer. The MXGP and MX2 classes will compete at all twenty rounds of the series while the WMX will have six rounds and the EMX250 nine rounds on their programme.
Steve Guttridge – Kawasaki Racing Manager: “Once again we start the season full of optimism knowing that we have some of the finest motocross racers in the world competing at the MXGP series across several categories. Each Kawasaki team brings a wealth of experience and aims to provide the best platform possible for the riders to put their KX machinery on the podium regularly and very realistically aim for the championship titles in their respective categories too!”
Credit: Words and photo by Kawasaki Europe
BAY OF PLENTY’S JOSIAH NATZKE, THE RIDER WHO IS CURRENTLY LEADING THE MX2 CLASS AFTER THE NATIONAL SERIES OPENER.
FEBRUARY 20, 2020: The famous refrain “Go Well, Go Shell” could perhaps never be more appropriate than right now, particularly for a race team that’s already rocketing along like greased lightning.
One of the most go-ahead and high-profile teams on the New Zealand motocross scene – the TransDiesel-backed Kawasaki Racing Team – is absolutely pumping this year and it has just gained a little extra lubrication in its slick bid to capture a national title this season.
This weekend in Rotorua it is the second round of four in the New Zealand Motocross Championships and the men on the distinctive green Kawasaki bikes will show up on Sunday with their bikes and rig emblazoned with the Shell Advance colours, a rapid and smooth response to main sponsor TransDiesel having taken over the distribution rights for Shell Oil in New Zealand.
The Kawasaki team is already strongly positioned, with MX2 (250cc) class rider Josiah Natzke on top of that category after the national series opener at Balclutha three weeks ago, Mount Maunganui’s Natzke following on from his New Zealand Supercross Championships title win back in November and his overall MX2 class victory at the big annual Whakatane Summercross in late December.
His re-branded Shell Advance Kawasaki Racing Team will therefore arrive at the race venue this Sunday – off State Highway 30 at Horohoro, just outside Rotorua – in a confident mood.
The team’s MX1 class rider, Te Puke’s Tyler Steiner, is currently positioned at seventh overall in this 450cc capacity bike class and poised to move up.
Change can happen very quickly on the motocross scene and now it’s going to be even slicker and massively exciting at the same time for the Kawasaki men.
“TransDiesel have done well to secure the distribution of Shell Oil in New Zealand. We are fortunate enough to be part of the transition to Shell Oil becoming the Major Sponsor for the Kawasaki Race Team,” said Kawasaki New Zealand Race Team manager Shane Verhoeven.
“Moving forward, I am truly excited to introduce everybody to the Shell Advance Kawasaki Race Team and it couldn’t be more fitting having Josiah Natzke taking the leader’s red number plate into the second round, six points clear of second place.”
TransDiesel sees this latest association as a perfect fit and an ideal alliance.
“Here at TransDiesel, we’ve got your back. Which means we’re always looking to improve the products and services we offer our clients and customers,” said TransDiesel chief operating officer Paul Harris.
“We’re constantly evaluating everything within the TransDiesel stable to make sure it is the best that it can be, which is why we decided it was time for an oil change – for us and for the Kawasaki Race Team,” he said.
TransDiesel is now the official distributor of Shell motor oils and lubricants in New Zealand. Under the partnership agreement, TransDiesel will manage distribution of Shell’s complete range of products across the consumer, transport, industrial, agricultural and marine sectors in New Zealand.
“TransDiesel is thrilled to be the new distributor for Shell lubricants, and proud to introduce and unveil the newly-rebranded Shell Advance Kawasaki Racing Team, which will be competing this weekend.
“The Shell Advance Motorcycle Oil has a long history in motorcycle racing both in New Zealand and internationally, so TransDiesel is very pleased to be able to bring the brand back to the market which we will see increase in presence over the coming weeks and months.
“Shell has been the leading global supplier of lubricants for 13 years in a row, a testament to the quality of their products and their dedication to the pursuit of excellence. We know the team are constantly striving for excellence too, which is why we’re so excited to be continuing our sponsorship under the new brand,” Harris said.
“With the alignment of Kawasaki, Shell and TransDiesel and all three strong brands sharing the same passion for performance, the future looks bright for this partnership and we look forward to our continued support
“TransDiesel is a well-established, 100% New Zealand-owned business, with a commitment to ensuring the brands they represent are global industry leaders in their respective fields. The company has experienced a sustained period of growth and success and this latest partnership with Shell is further testament to key international brands trust in TransDiesel being the best sales and service organisation to represent them in NZ.”
TransDiesel will begin product distribution in New Zealand on March 1.
After the racing at Rotorua on Sunday, the New Zealand Motocross Championships next head to Hawke’s Bay for round three on March 1, with the fourth and final round in Taupo on Sunday, March 15.
Credit: Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
