WMX

DRT Kawasaki’s Courtney Duncan has been voted New Zealand’s Sports Woman of the Year at the national Media and Entertainment Awards.

Last season the twenty-four-year-old from Dunedin finally achieved her goal of winning the FIM World WMX Women’s Motocross Championship at the fourth attempt; her stunning success saw Courtney win nine of the ten races in the series after a successful transition to Kawasaki and the incomparable KX250.

Her overwhelming march to the title as she shrugged off three years of misfortune prior to joining Kawasaki has now brought her the ultimate recognition in her native New Zealand when she was named as NZME Sports Woman of the Year at the ASB Otago Sports Awards; it was a tough category which also featured Netball World Cup winner Gina Crampton and para-athletics world championships silver medallist Holly Robinson.

‘‘There were definitely some days when I’d lay in bed wondering was I ever going to get across the line. It weighed on me a lot but I still had that belief and knowledge deep down that I had something that was good enough. It was just about putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and just figuring it out was the main thing, “ she told the audience at the Awards as Kawasaki and the comfortable environment of the Dixon Racing Team gave her the atmosphere to finally achieve her aims. She currently leads the 2020 WMX world series after four races in March before racing activities were suspended worldwide; the next round of the series is tentatively scheduled for the fifth of September at Afyonkarahisar in Turkey.

MONACO (Principality of Monaco) 13^th May 2020 – Following a year off the bike, Kiara Fontanesi put on a remarkable performance at Matterley Basin as she secured her first podium of the season, just three months after the birth of her baby daughter Skyler. Then we moved on to Valkenswaard a week later, where she took her first win of the season, and made another podium appearance. This left many stunned, including the 6-time Women’s Motocross World Champion herself.

In the latest issue of the MXGP Magazine, we caught up with the Italian to find out more about how she is managing two very important roles – being a super-mum and a world championship racer. We find out more about her training regime during her pregnancy which was one of the key factors to her impressive performances at round one and two of the 2020 campaign.

Read the full feature HERE!

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Infront Moto Racing

FIM

MXGP Mag

AFYON (Turkey) 8 September 2019 – Bike It DRT Kawasaki’s Courtney Duncan achieved her lifetime achievement this weekend at the final round of the Women’s Motocross World Championship as she has been crowned 2019 Women’s Motocross World Champion in Afyon after walking away from the dry heat of Turkey with her first World championship. The New Zealander went 1-1 and proved once again to be too good for the opposition after dominating the whole series with 4 rounds win. 

Sara Andersen finished second overall with 2-2 results and No Fear Yamaha team’s Nancy Van De Ven finished third overall with 3-3 results on the day and second overall in the championship points. Third in the championship was Larissa Papenmeier who had a bitter-sweet weekend.

In the opening WMX race Duncan was in a close battle for first place, going from fourth to first in the second corner, but made a mistake and dropped back behind Papenmeier and Van De Ven. Duncan rode cautious and she did not want to make a mistake being third place just ahead of Andersen.

Van De Ven then passed Papenmeier and moved into first place while Andersen moved into second place. Duncan also passed Papenmeier for third and soon after Andersen took the lead over Van De Ven.

Duncan was on fire and moved into second place and relegated Van De Ven to third while Papenmeier crashed and dropped back to eight position. Duncan passed Andersen for the lead and was never headed again. Duncan won from Andersen and Van De Ven.

The second WMX race saw Papenmeier leading from Duncan, but the Kiwi was quickly into the lead ahead of Line Dam, Papenmeier, Van De Ven, and Shana Van der Vlist. After two laps the lead by Duncan was nearly seven seconds with Andersen second and Van De Ven third. Amandine Verstappen was into fourth and Dam fifth.

On lap six Duncan just controlled the race up front with a 13-second lead over Anderson and Van De Ven in third. The new World champion made it a 20 second lead on lap eight and looked brilliant once again. Dam crashed out while battling with Papenmeier for fifth position and dropped back to seventh. Duncan wins it from Andersen and Van De Ven claiming her coveted Women’s Motocross World Title.

Courtney Duncan: “I am lost for words. I can’t describe it. I won my first race and I expected big things from myself and everyone around me also. I needed to take my time and learn from these mistakes and failures and when we felt like quitting, we kept going and here we are, World champion. Yes, I mean I wanted to go out there and ride a good race and I had nothing to lose and just put the hammer down. What a way to end the season, nine out of ten wins and I couldn’t be happier. It was cool to clinch it yesterday and just enjoy today and embrace the moment. I am so grateful my family did and all my other family, they put in a bit effort. The team, Dixon Racing, Monster Energy and so awesome to have my family here.”

Nancy Van De Ven: “Second overall in the championship but Courtney was really good, and she deserves this championship. I had to fight to get third on the podium and second in the championship. Overall it was a good year and I want to thank my team and sponsors and my family.”

Larissa Papenmeier: “I had a tough weekend. I started getting sick and I was at the medical center for a long time, I wasn’t sure I could ride. I finished eight and crashed again and I wasn’t sure I could race again today. For sure I am not feeling good now, but congratulation to Courtney and let’s see what happens next year. I want to thank the team, my family and my fans. I want to ride MX2 class in China next week, so I hope I am well enough.”

WMX - Race 1 Top Ten:1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 26:02.094; 2. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:12.818; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:25.931; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Yamaha), +0:47.884; 5. Line Dam (DEN, Honda), +1:10.954; 6. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:15.881; 7. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +1:17.645; 8. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +1:34.765; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:50.775; 10. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s); 

WMX - Race 2 Top Ten:1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 24:10.640; 2. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:29.096; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:33.273; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Yamaha), +0:34.424; 5. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +1:07.454; 6. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:16.850; 7. Line Dam (DEN, Honda), +1:35.826; 8. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +1:40.454; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:41.914; 10. Elisa Galvagno (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s);

WMX - Overall Top Ten:1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 50 points; 2. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 44 p.; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 40 p.; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Line Dam (DEN, HON), 30 p.; 7. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 29 p.; 8. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 24 p.; 10. Elisa Galvagno (ITA, YAM), 21 p.;

WMX - Championship Top Ten:1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 239 points; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 203 p.; 3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 195 p.; 4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, YAM), 171 p.; 5. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 153 p.; 6. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 152 p.; 7. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 147 p.; 8. Line Dam (DEN, HON), 111 p.; 9. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 106 p.; 10. Nicky van Wordragen (NED, YAM), 65 p.;

WMX - Manufacturers Classification:1. Kawasaki, 239 points; 2. Yamaha, 219 p.; 3. KTM, 182 p.; 4. Honda, 116 p.; 5. Suzuki, 114 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 59 p.

Main Photo: 2019 WMX Championship Podium - Youthstream CEO David Luongo, Nancy Van De Ven, Courtney Duncan, Larissa Papenmeier, FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela

Bottom Photos: 1. WMX Start; 2. Duncan Celebrations

Click HERE for the complete results

All the Photos from the MXGP of Turkey will be available HERE 

MXGP of Turkey – QUICK FACTS

Circuit length: 1,725m

Type of ground: Hard Pack

Temperature: 28°

Weather conditions: sunny

Weekend Crowd Attendance: 25,000

WMX was available across the board in high definition and is also globally available to view live and in HD on MXGP-TV.com. Click here for the complete list of countries and cooperating MXGP broadcasting networks.

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MXGP of Turkey

Immediately after celebrating her third consecutive double-race win success at Imola Courtney Duncan extended her contract with Kawasaki Motors Europe and the Bike It DRT squad into the 2020 season.

The 2019 season has been excellent so far for both Courtney and DRT manager Steve Dixon, who collected the podium honours at each of the last three rounds of the FIM World WMX Women's Motocross Championship and have led the series since the Portuguese GP in May. Victorious in every moto bar one at the opening round of the series, the twenty-three-year-old New Zealander quickly adapted to her new bike and team and is now close to her first-ever world title as she leads the series by twenty-three points headed for the final round in Turkey on September 7/8. Successfully racing the new 2020 KX250 to victory in the last two rounds, Courtney was so happy with her new environment that she has already extended her contract for the future.

Courtney Duncan: “I'm very thankful and excited to announce that I have extended my contract with Kawasaki and DRT through 2020. I really feel at home with the team and feel the KX250 suits me perfectly. This is just the start and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can continue to achieve together in the future.”

Steve Dixon: “First I want to thank Kawasaki Motors Europe and Steve Guttridge for their support to our team; it’s been so nice to work with Courtney this season. She’s a nice girl and, although she was already successful in the past, she is quite dominant at the moment; our strategy this year was to try to win the series and to provide her with the best support. We all know that nothing is done until the last race, but so far it’s been an exciting season for us and we’ll continue to work hard together in the future.”

Steve Guttridge (Kawasaki Europe Racing Manager): "Courtney's arrival this season at Kawasaki and within the DRT set-up was an instant success. She has gelled with both the KX250 and the team and we can see positive proof in her winning performances on the track so far this season. She is a pleasure to work with both on and off the track, so we are very happy that she has committed herself to continue to race with Kawasaki in the future."