However, it was all glamour and gloss for Palmerston women’s world motorcross champion Courtney Duncan in Monaco this week.
Duncan and Christchurch youth rider Hamish MacDonald were officially presented with their 2019 FIM world championship medals at a glittering ceremony in Monaco on Monday.
Since Motorcycling NZ became affiliated with the FIM in 1986, New Zealand has never previously had two riders win world championship events in a single season.
The duo joined nearly 600 guests at the FIM awards.
Duncan (23) dominantly won the FIM women’s world championship this year after three years of near-misses.
MacDonald (20), of Christchurch, claimed the FIM 125cc youth enduro world championship, New Zealand’s first title in the discipline, thanks to an impressive second season at this level.
Duncan said it was definitely a proud moment receiving her world championship medal among all the other winners.
New Zealander Katherine Oberlin-Brown (nee Prumm) won the event in 2006-07 before the class was elevated to world motocross championship status.
The duo were treated to all the superstar treatment in Monaco — complete with a helicopter transfer into Monte Carlo — while Duncan was dressed for the awards night by New Zealand fashion label Company of Strangers, from Dunedin.
“It was a huge honour to be representing New Zealand at these awards and to have Hamish alongside — another Kiwi — is pretty special for our country.
‘‘I will enjoy this moment before I get back to work towards next season.”
Duncan will return to Palmerston but will head back to Europe some time next month, as her first round is in Britain at the end of February.
“I’ll start to build for the season when I’m return to New Zealand at the end of the week. It’ll be another big year, which I’m looking forward to.”
