DUNCAN IN No.1 POSITION
The “Kiwi Girl” is back on top of the world.
The FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship started at the weekend with race one on Saturday and race two taking place on Sunday, resulting in Altherm JCR Yamaha’s Courtney Duncan, from New Zealand, taking the first leader’s red number plate of the season.
In race one, Dutch rider Nancy Van de Ven came out on a mission, making minimal errors and leaving her with a 1 minute and 24 second winning margin across the finish line.
Team Nine Six Four’s Nicky van Wordragen finished in a well-earned second position followed by Anne Borchers, from Germany, while Team One One Four’s Livia Lancelot and MXFonta Yamaha Racing’s Kiara Fontanesi had issues and were looking to rebound Sunday and that is exactly what they did.
For Sunday’s second race, Otago’s Duncan came out well prepared and it showed, she won the race and, after her fifth placing from race one, she grabbed the overall and the red plate.
However, she had a short fall in which she later said: “My coach, Josh (Coppins) was by my side and guided me through it all day and we got the job done … I didn’t want to have a second, I really wanted to have a win here, so I charged back and got the win!”
Van Wordragen, from the Netherlands, rode consistently over the two days, earning herself second overall. Creymert Racing’s Shana van der Vlist was a top performer in race one, finishing 4th, but her well earned eighth in race two gave her the final spot on the podium. German Anne Borchers was 3rd in race one but after a demanding race two she slid back one position in the overall classification finishing 4th.
Former champion Fontanesi had a few mistakes on day one but was determined on Sunday, she finished in a strong second place in race two putting herself 5th overall.
Defending champion Lancelot had a strong showing in race two after problems in race one. Lancelot responded to the challenge and came out 9th overall while Nancy Van de Ven finished 10th overall due to a disqualification on race two for receiving outside assistance.
RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
WMX Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), 26:31.788; 2. Nicky van Wordragen (NED, Yamaha), +1:24.993; 3. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 4. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 5. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 6. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 7. Elaine MacEachern (GBR, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), -2 lap(s); 9. Genette Vaage (NOR, KTM), -2 lap(s); 10. Virginie Germond (SUI, Yamaha), -2 lap(s)
WMX Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Yamaha), 26:20.636; 2. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:19.658; 3. Livia Lancelot (FRA, Kawasaki), +3:47.043; 4. Nicky van Wordragen (NED, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 5. Genette Vaage (NOR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 6. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 7. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), -1 lap(s); 8. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 9. Francesca Nocera (ITA, Suzuki), -1 lap(s); 10. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), -1 lap(s)
WMX Overall Top 10:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 41 points; 2. Nicky van Wordragen (NED, YAM), 40 p.; 3. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 4. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 31 p.; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 30 p.; 6. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 30 p.; 7. Genette Vaage (NOR, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KAW), 26 p.; 10. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 25 p.
WMX Championship Top 10:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 41 points; 2. Nicky van Wordragen (NED, YAM), 40 p.; 3. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 4. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 31 p.; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 30 p.; 6. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 30 p.; 7. Genette Vaage (NOR, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 27 p.; 9. Livia Lancelot (FRA, KAW), 26 p.; 10. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 25 p.