Rising New zealand motocross talent Courtney Duncan has a point to prove in Europe this weekend
The Yamaha rider will wrap up her European campaign when she races the seventh and final round of the women’s world championship in the Netherlands.
It’s been a year of what might have been for Duncan.
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 – killed off her chances of winning the crown at her first attempt.
Injuries sustained in that crash forced Duncan to miss the following two GPs in France and Italy as she underwent surgery and then took more time off to recover.
However, with four wins from the seven races in the four rounds she has contested, Duncan has shown her potential and she is eager to finish on a high.
Duncan is sixth in the world championship standings and while a podium is out of the question, she could lift as high as fourth if she can get the right results in the Netherlands.
Her team boss and mentor, two-time former world No 2 Josh Coppins of Motueka, has ensured that she 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,” Coppins said.
“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.”
Coppins confirmed Duncan will contest the world championship again next year, as well as mixing up racing against men in New Zealand this summer.
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.
