Round four of five in the 2022 Women’s Motocross World Championships (WMX) in Spain at the weekend belonged to New Zealand’s defending world champion Courtney Duncan.
The Big Van World MTX Kawasaki team rider from Otago had a disastrous crash in the first practice session at the GP of Portugal a month ago and that left her 2022 title hopes in tatters.
But she made a dramatic comeback from injury to finish 1-2 in her two motos at the GP of Spain, on the outskirts of Madrid, at the weekend.
Having won the first moto in Spain on Saturday on her return to racing from injury, the New Zealander got the perfect start to race two as she rode an immaculate line through turn one to take the holeshot.
With a clear track and pacing herself admirably in her first race since March, she rode immaculately to defend the lead until a local girl, fired on by the enthusiastic crowd, charged on to her rear wheel.
Fully aware that second in moto was sufficient to secure the overall victory, Duncan rode a tactical race, responding admirably when the championship leader tried to close her down to ensure success by a clear margin.
Having missed two rounds of the five-event series, she has no chance of a fourth consecutive title, but the victory in Spain was the 18th overall success of her career.
“I think I can be proud of my performance this weekend,” said Duncan.
“Last month I was going under the knife going for surgery and to think I could be on the top step of the box in my first race back was a really proud feeling. I’ve battled through a lot of adversity, so it was cool to push through the other side of it.
“It was great to grab the holeshot today and the first few laps were quite intense. It’s my first race for something like three months so I’m still a little rusty but I knew second today was enough to win the GP.
“I enjoyed the track both days. There were plenty of lines so I had a lot of fun and what a place to do it; 33 degrees Celsius and the Spanish crowd was unreal!
“We can take a lot of info from here for the future too; you come to the races to know that. I did what I had to do to take the win and I’m just so stoked to listen to the national anthem and raise that Kiwi flag on the podium today.
“The final round in Turkey is still a couple of months away so I’ll fly home to New Zealand this week to prepare for that.”
New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan made a dramatic comeback from injury to finish 1-2 in her two motos at the GP of Spain, on the outskirts of Madrid, at the weekend. Photo courtesy Kawasaki
RESULTS & STANDINGS:
WMX – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), 24:55.386; 2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:04.241; 3. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), +0:07.797; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:16.116; 5. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, Yamaha), +0:51.750; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:55.859; 7. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, Honda), +1:01.647; 8. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +1:05.898; 9. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:08.092; 10. Mathea Seleboe (NOR, Yamaha), +1:11.259.
WMX – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 24:53.325; 2. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), +0:08.176; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:14.630; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Yamaha), +0:15.104; 5. Lynn Valk (NED, Yamaha), +0:38.348; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +0:42.774; 7. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:48.586; 8. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, Honda), +1:11.898; 9. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, Yamaha), +1:22.495; 10. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), +1:24.737.
WMX – Overall Top 10 Classification:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 47 points; 2. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 45 p.; 3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 42 p.; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 30 p.; 6. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 29 p.; 7. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, YAM), 28 p.; 8. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 27 p.; 9. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 23 p.; 10. Mathea Seleboe (NOR, YAM), 20 p.
WMX – Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 173 points; 2. Lynn Valk (NED, YAM), 148 p.; 3. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 135 p.; 4. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, YAM), 132 p.; 5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KAW), 102 p.; 6. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 100 p.; 7. Giorgia Blasigh (ITA, YAM), 96 p.; 8. Martine Hughes (NOR, HON), 95 p.; 9. Daniela Guillen (ESP, KTM), 85 p.; 10. Tahlia Jade O’Hare (AUS, HON), 83 p.
2022 Women’s Motocross World Championship calendar:
Round 1: March 5-6, MXGP of Lombardia, Mantova, Italy.
Round 2: April 2-3, MXGP of Portugal, Agueda.
Round 3: May 14-15, MXGP of Sardegna, Riola Sardo, Sardinia.
Round 4: May 28-29, MXGP of Spain, intu Xanadú.
Round 5: September 3-4, MXGP of Turkey, Afyonkarahisar.
Photos courtesy Kawasaki
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