Duncan will be very hard to catch

Courtney Duncan.
Courtney Duncan.
Some of the world’s best and some  slightly past their best will go flying at the New Zealand Veterans’ and Women’s Motocross Championships at Lee Stream this weekend.

The challenging farmland venue at the Scorgie property, Lee Stream Rd, Outram, on State Highway 87, will host the two-day event which features an impressive entry list.

The popular annual event features many riders who, despite their veteran status, still rate among the sport’s elite, while the women’s events will feature rising stars.

Several of the riders expected to shine among the women include Otago’s own Courtney Duncan, Cambridge’s Sandra Hannon, Motueka’s Katie Silcock, Opunake’s Taylar Rampton and Eketahuna pair Letitia and Courtney Alabaster, all of them in hot form at recent events.

This weekend’s  Lee Stream meeting  will be just another phase in Duncan’s build-up for the start of the 2017 Women’s Motocross World Championship, which is due to begin in Indonesia on March 5.

Such is the calibre of Duncan that it is unlikely  2015 women’s champion Letitia Alabaster, of Pahiatua, or anyone else  will even get close to threatening her.

Josh Coppins.
Josh Coppins.
Looking out, too, for top performances from riders such as Te Awamutu’s Rachael Archer, Bay of Plenty riders Julie Managh and Mary Wanhill and Nelson sisters Tyla, Roma and Skye Edwards.

Motueka’s former world No2, Josh Coppins, Taranaki’s former national 500cc champion Mitch Rowe, Blenheim’s Moston Wadsworth and Nelson’s Bryan Heaphy are all expected to shine in the veteran men’s competition.

Coppins is the clear favourite to win his class.

The 39-year-old is just four years into his retirement from full-time international competition.

Coppins is the manager of the Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing Team, of  which Duncan is a key member, and he would like nothing better than to add two more trophies to the team cabinet.

"Obviously, Courtney and I would like to win both our classes," he said.

"It’s also a good opportunity for Courtney to race locally and for her family to visit and see her race, an opportunity that is becoming more rare for them these days with Courtney overseas so much."

Duncan should have races throughout today.

The track is in good condition despite the rain of the past few days.

Coppins is off to the United States to compete in the  motocross world veterans’ championships in California next weekend.

About 140 riders will line  up at Lee Stream from all around the country.

Three races are scheduled for each class today and two races in each class tomorrow, winding up with all-in feature races at the end of the day, to determine the outright best  riders.

Racing starts between 9.30am and 10am on both days and spectator entry is free. 

- Andy McGechan

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