Duncan excited about fresh start with Kawasaki

Dunedin motocross rider Courtney Duncan with the KX250 bike she will ride for her new team Bike It Dixon Racing Team in this year’s women’s world championship. Photo: Kawasaki Racing
Dunedin motocross rider Courtney Duncan with the KX250 bike she will ride for her new team Bike It Dixon Racing Team in this year’s women’s world championship. Photo: Kawasaki Racing
Courtney Duncan will be hoping her new team comes with some better luck than her previous one.

The 23-year-old Dunedin motocross rider has joined British Kawasaki's Bike It Dixon Racing Team for the women's world championship.

Run by significant motocross figure Steve Dixon, the team returns to the women's championship after a 10-year hiatus.

Duncan will race a KX250 bike.

It will be her fourth attempt at the title, having been denied in the most unlucky circumstances each of the past three years.

A broken foot ruled her out of the final two rounds of the series last year.

She had held a 21-point lead over the field up until that point.

A year earlier, a contentious jury decision robbed her.

In her first season a photographer standing in the wrong place resulted in a crash and a season-ending injury.

Having returned to the bike six weeks ago after recovering from her most recent setback, she is looking forward to getting started.

''I'm super excited about this opportunity that has come up to sign with the Bike It DRT Kawasaki race team,'' she said.

''It's a new team and a new bike to start out the new year.

''I feel like it's going to be a good year for me, and I believe DRT will put me in a good position to win the championship.

''A fresh start is what I needed, and I couldn't be more excited than to do that with Kawasaki.

''Kawasaki New Zealand have also come on board to support me at home, for which I am also very thankful.''

Duncan parted ways with her Yamaha Josh Coppins Racing team.

She has since flown out for her new England base where she will prepare for the five-event championship.

The first of those stops is in the Netherlands in two weeks.

Dixon said Kawasaki regarded her as a strong replacement for its previous star and carried high
hopes.

''It was actually a friend who mentioned to me that Courtney was looking around for a competitive ride in this year's GPs,'' he said.

''It took some thinking about, but Kawasaki were keen, especially since their previous champion Livia Lancelot has retired.

''I confidently expect Courtney to bring Kawasaki the world title.''

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