DUNCAN’S FIRED UP | Bikesportnz

Otago’s Courtney Duncan is fired up for motocross glory both home and abroad.

In just a few weeks time, she will switch from tormenting the world’s elite female motocross riders in Europe to terrorising the best of the male racers in New Zealand.

But first the Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team rider will wrap up the European phase of her season when she races the seventh and final round of the Women’s Motocross World Championships (WMX) in The Netherlands this weekend.

A mishap at the third round of the series in Germany in May – when an errant photographer, standing out on the track, clipped Duncan and sent her tumbling to the dirt – is perhaps all that stood between the Kiwi heroine winning her first world championship crown at her first attempt this year.

Injuries sustained in that crash in Germany meant she was forced to miss the following two GPs (in France and Italy) on the sideline as she underwent surgery and then took more time off to recover, and it meant her chances even for a podium finish for the year also evaporated.

However, with four race wins from the seven races (in the four rounds) she has started so far this year, and perhaps with more race wins to come this weekend, Duncan has shown she’s certainly deserving of a great deal more recognition.

The German incident was a bitter blow for the then championship leader, but Duncan will put those thoughts behind her when she races on the infield of the famous Assen road-racing circuit this weekend.

Duncan is currently sixth in the WMX championship standings, but it is mathematically possible for her to finish the year in fourth or fifth position and this is despite her injuries ruling her out of five of the series’ 14 races.

Duncan’s Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team boss and mentor, two-time former world No.2 Josh Coppins, of Motueka, has ensured that Duncan is in the right head-space for her final outing in Europe this year.

“Winning this weekend would be nice, but it’s not essential. It’s what we are working for and it’s what Courtney wants and I think she’s very capable of doing it,” said Coppins.

“If we can leave this championship having won most of the rounds, it does show that what happened (in Germany) really cost her the title and I think that’s important for Courtney personally.

“I can confirm she will race a full season of WMX for Altherm JCR Yamaha again next year. Unfortunately, we also wanted her to contest a full summer of racing (against the men) in the MX2 class in New Zealand, but currently there is a clash with round one of the WMX and a round of the New Zealand motocross nationals.”

Along with her team-mates, Duncan will race in the MX2 class at the Taupo MX Fest, the Whakatane Summercross, the New Zealand Grand Prix at Woodville and the nationals.

She’ll be joined by Mangakino’s Kayne Lamont, who will race the MX1 class, and it is also possible that Australian Dean Ferris may cross the Tasman again to join the two Kiwis at several key New Zealand events.

“Dean isn’t confirmed for us yet, but more than likely he will join Kayne and Courtney here,” said Coppins.

“I’d like to have Dean also race Summercross, but I need to discuss this with CDR Yamaha in Australia to confirm it. We also have (Waitakere’s) Ethan Martens on the great Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke, who will help cover for Courtney when she misses a round of the New Zealand motocross nationals while she is (racing the WMX championship) in Indonesia.

“I will most probably join her in Indonesia too, along with Graeme Deans as her mechanic. Her European mechanic, Bjorn Stokmans, will prepare her bikes and they will be flown in from Europe.”

Duncan and her Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing team is supported by Altherm Window Systems, Yamaha, JCR, CRC, Ados, GYTR, Yamalube, Fox Racing, Hollands Collision Centre, Star Moving, Ward Demolition, Fulton Hogan, Pirelli, FMF, DID, NGK, Matrix, Renthal, Motomuck, Workshop Graphics, Motoseat, Hammerhead, SKF, Vertex Pistons, Rtech Plastics, Etnies, Biketranz and Fulton Hogan.

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