Duncan Determined To Rise Again

Duncan Determined To Rise Again

MAY 26, 2016: Otago sports woman Courtney Duncan is learning to take the good with the bad.

The 20-year-old is a motocross hero in New Zealand and fast becoming one overseas as well, but her progress internationally has been temporarily put on the backburner after a freak crash at the German Grand Prix just over two weeks ago, the third round of seven in the Women's Motocross World Championships.

Now back in New Zealand to recuperate, her disappointment was softened just a fraction by her being able to attend the Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ) awards ceremony in Wellington last weekend and there she was named New Zealand's best up-and-coming off-road rider for 2016, an honour that some might say was actually long overdue.

A better rider than most Kiwi boys her age, Duncan has for long been respected by her rivals in both the senior men's and women's ranks. She became the first female to win the Grand Prix title in the senior MX2 class at the big annual New Zealand Motocross GP at Woodville in late January, before embarking on her debut Women's Motocross World Championships campaign in Europe a few days later.

She won three of the first four races in the world series, before falling victim to a freak crash at the German GP, when she collided with a photographer who should not have been standing on the track. Seriously injured, she returned home for surgery and to recover.

"I came over that jump just like in the eight laps previously, with no problems at all, and this one time there was a photographer standing on the track. There was nothing I could do and a clipped my handlebars on her," said Duncan.

Duncan has now slipped from first to third overall in the championship standings with only four rounds (eight races) remaining.

She hopes to resume her world championship campaign as soon as possible, although her title prospects have now dimmed considerably.

"I'll miss the next two rounds, in France and Italy, but hopefully I'll be back for Switzerland (on August 7) and Assen (in The Netherlands, on August 28).

"I'm disappointed, to say the least. I'm not going to lie, it has been very hard to accept. So much time and energy was spent on the preparation for my world championships campaign.

"But I can't dwell on the negatives and instead I'll take some positives out of it. By working with (Motueka's former GP motocross star) Josh Coppins, I have learned so much. My riding has improved so much.

"Yamaha New Zealand has been so supportive of me, just as they have for my racing in New Zealand over the past eight years. They have been through a lot with me and there have been some tough times before too," she said.

Duncan and her Altherm JCR Yamaha Racing team are supported by Altherm Window Systems, Yamaha, JCR, CRC, Ados, GYTR, Yamalube, Fox Racing, Hollands Collision Centre, Star Moving, Ward Demolition, Fulton Hogan, Pirelli, FMF, DID, NGK, Matrix, Renthal, Motomuck, Workshop Graphics, Motoseat, Hammerhead, SKF, Vertex Pistons, Rtech Plastics, Etnies, Biketranz and Fulton Hogan.

Words by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com

ENDS

© Scoop Media