New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan and her Kawasaki team take a 16-point lead into the final round of the FIM World WMX Women’s Motocross Championships after the weekend’s penultimate round.
The South Islander scored the third overall victory of the season at Arroyomolinos, in Spain, at the weekend.
Second fastest in qualifying at the man-made track on the outskirts of the Spanish capital Madrid, the Bike It MTX Kawasaki girl from Palmerston got squeezed by her title rivals out of the gate in race one to emerge a lowly eighth from turn one but she immediately made strides to take over fourth by the end of lap one and move into third half a lap later.
Lapping a second per lap faster than her rivals, the Otago woman quickly closed down the leaders to take over second on lap three and set off in pursuit of her most serious title rival.
Significantly faster through the waves sections she swept alongside on lap six to hold the ideal line into the following corner but her rival refused to yield; they clashed in the turn and the other girl ran over the track-side bank while Duncan regained her balance and composure to hold a commanding lead.
There was sudden drama three laps from the end as the Kiwi reached to rip off a tear-off from her goggles on the heavily-ripped start straight; the handlebars were dragged from her grasp and she cartwheeled along the straight.
“Losing 20 seconds and with no eye protection for the remainder of the race, she cleverly negotiated the lappers to defiantly withstand the renewed challenge of her main championship rival by less than half-a-second at the chequered flag.
“After treatment for a deep cut in her left hand the Kiwi switched her gate-pick for race two to round turn one third and she needed less than a lap to take control of the race on a slippery heavily-watered track which demanded care and concentration.
Moving clear of her chasers at more than a second each lap she eventually won by nearly 20 seconds to clinch her third overall victory in five rounds and extend her series lead to 16 points heading into next weekend’s final round in the Trentino region of northern Italy.
“It was a tough weekend but we got the job done,” said Duncan afterwards.
“It didn’t start off on the right foot, first tangling with Kiara and then a huge crash. It was a pretty stupid mistake; I should have known better than that and I only had myself to blame.
“I ended up in the medics, getting taped up with a deep cut in my finger; I was in pain for the second moto, but I was happy to rebound with the win. Once the adrenalin kicks in you forget the pain.
“The track was difficult but I rode smooth, rode smart and kept it upright; you had to execute where you could pass and try not to make mistakes; I was able to make my way to the front quickly and put in some solid laps. I didn’t feel spectacular, but I got the job done.
“Now I’m looking forward to the final round next weekend in Trentino. I’ve been in this situation before with the title on the line; I just have to be open-minded and confident.”
Duncan didn’t appear to feel under much pressure going into the final round in Italy next weekend, particularly after one of her most impressive wins this season in the second race in Spain.
“For me it’s more excitement – I look back at my childhood and I’m in the position I dream of being in,” said Duncan.
“This weekend was the first race with fans back in the pits which was awesome – I forgot how much joy they bring to the sport.
“Hopefully a few show up this weekend and we bring our A game – the fractured finger isn’t going to hold me back.”
RESULTS AND STANDINGS:
WMX – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:
- Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), 24:46.750; 2. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), +0:05.314; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), +0:05.783; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:25.970; 5. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +0:28.397; 6. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:30.947; 7. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, Honda), +0:49.668; 8. Lynn Valk (NED, Husqvarna), +0:51.550; 9. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), +0:51.936; 10. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +1:11.836.
WMX – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification:
- Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 25:12.532; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:19.304; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), +0:22.742; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:29.126; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:30.161; 6. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), +0:37.192; 7. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:14.423; 8. Jamie Astudillo (USA, KTM), +1:21.817; 9. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, Honda), +1:25.664; 10. Mathea Seleboe (NOR, Yamaha), +1:50.685;
WMX – Overall Top 10 Classification:
- Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 47 points; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 47 p.; 3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 40 p.; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 29 p.; 6. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 29 p.; 7. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 26 p.; 9. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 10. Lynn Valk (NED, HUS), 19 p.
WMX – Championship Top 10 Classification after five of six rounds:
- Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 223 points; 2. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 207 p.; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 195 p.; 4. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 170 p.; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 167 p.; 6. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 153 p.; 7. Lynn Valk (NED, HUS), 140 p.; 8. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 130 p.; 9. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 125 p.; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 89 p.
2021 Women’s Motocross World Championship calendar:
Round 1: Saturday, July 24, GP of Czech Republic, Loket
Round 2: Saturday, July 31, GP of Flanders-Belgium, Lommel
Round 3: Saturday, September 4, GP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar
Round 4: Wednesday, September 8, GP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar
Round 5: Saturday, October 16, GP of Spain, intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
Round 6: Saturday, October 30, GP of Trentino, Pietramurata
Photos courtesy Kawasaki Europe
Find BikesportNZ.com on FACEBOOK here