Bad luck dogs Duncan but bigger events await

Courtney Duncan.
Courtney Duncan.
Palmerston's Courtney Duncan continues to be dogged by bad luck, as another major win eluded her at the weekend.

But the big picture is still very bright for the world champion in waiting.

The 20-year-old was unlucky to be forced out of this year's women's motocross world championships in Europe when an errant photographer caused her to crash in Germany, and it was a crash in the first of five top-40 rider shootouts on Sunday afternoon which spoiled her experience in Taupo over Labour Weekend.

Duncan finished fifth, first and second in her three MX2 class races earlier in the day, good enough for her to be runner-up in the standings to fellow Yamaha rider Wyatt Chase (Taupo), and just ahead of joint third-ranked riders Ethan Martens (Waitakere) and Te Puke's Logan Blackburn.

But, when she got caught in a pile-up near the start of the first of the shoot-out races at the MX Fest event in Taupo and therefore missed the top-20 cut-off, her day was prematurely over and her hope of scoring more points was gone.

Although upset to be knocked off the podium and dropped down to fourth - Chase eventually won the MX2 class ahead of Martens and Blackburn - Duncan has bigger events ahead this season.

Her next mission is to win the New Zealand women's motocross championships at Lee Stream this weekend, followed by the annual Whakatane Summercross just after Christmas and the New Zealand Grand Prix at Woodville - an event in which she stunned the men by winning the MX2 class there last season.

The New Zealand senior motocross championships feature on her horizon for February and March. After that she heads overseas to again tackle the women's world championships. The world series begins in Indonesia on March 5.

Duncan will be joined by her coach Josh Coppins this weekend but Coppins will be not only tutoring Duncan but will also be riding. Coppins is lining up in the national veterans' motocross championships which take place at the same time and venue as the women's championships.

This is believed to be the first time the event has been held on the Lee Stream circuit.

More than 120 riders have already registered for the veterans' and women's events, which will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

It will be the first time Otago fans will be able to see Duncan in live action since she made such a spectacular debut in the world championships earlier this year.

Add a Comment