Courtney Duncan’s quest to revive her motocross career has hit another speed bump.
The four-time world champion last month revealed to the Otago Daily Times she did not have a seat in this year’s Women’s Motocross Championship.
The 30-year-old missed the entire 2025 WMX season due to a heart condition, but is determined to get back on the circuit.
She was supposed to make her competitive return at the Oceania Women’s Motocross Cup in Australia this weekend.
She was selected for the New Zealand team but fractured some ribs in a heavy fall while training in Waikato over the past week, and has been forced to withdraw from the competition.
"I was really looking forward to competing at this event — it’s always an honour to represent the fern, especially alongside this team of women,’’ Duncan told the Waikato Herald.
"Team events are quite different from my normal racing schedule, and so I was excited and well-prepared for this one. I wish the team every success there in Wonthaggi."
Duncan had hoped the event would serve as a springboard for her to mount a comeback.
She was keen on reminding everybody just how fast she can ride.
The Kawasaki rider, who hails from the small town of Palmerston, got the bad news she had lost her seat in the WMX just before Christmas.
‘‘Yeah, tough start to the new year, but I’m just trying to make it happen,’’ she said at the time.
‘‘I haven’t even thought about whether I would not be racing.’’
Milla Dahlenburg (Nelson) will take Duncan’s spot and join Amie Roberts (Hamilton), Karaitiana Horne (Raetihi) and Mikayla Griffiths (Taupō).
The event includes teams from Asia, the United States and Australia.
