Courtrney Duncan looks ahead to her racing comeback The 17-year-old Yamaha rider from Palmerston, not far from Dunedin, made an immediate impact racing at the ultimate level of women’s motocross in the United States in May, causing a sensation in her debut appearance at the US national championships when she dominated the day. The Kiwi teenager swept both her races in her WMX (Women’s Motocross Championships) debut at the Hangtown Motocross Classic, the opening round of the US motocross nationals in Sacramento, California. Duncan beat Japan’s Sayaka Kaneshiro, who finished second Overall with a 2-3 score, and Texas native Taylor Higgins, who rounded out the Overall podium. "The national championship round at Hangtown (in California) went really well for me,” said Duncan, in classic understatement. "I achieved a dream I've had since day one ... to win my first ever Pro National in my debut is the best feeling in the world.” Sadly, the Yamaha ace came crashing back to earth just days later. "I broke my wrist in a training accident and that meant I had to skip round two. It was also only just over two weeks away until the next big event for me, the Loretta Lynn’s amateur national regional qualifiers, so I had surgery and a metal plate inserted and managed to get to the start line," explained Duncan. "I won both my races there, even though I still wasn’t 100 percent.” But then her US campaign took another turn for the worst. She was Despite suffering concussion, Duncan managed to remount and claw her way forward from 42nd place to finish the race seventh, but that was the end of her big American adventure. Now back home in Palmerston, she has not ridden since the accident. "'I opted not to carry on in the United States. With a head injury you can't afford to risk it. I want to be around for a long time. There will be plenty more races coming up for me.” It was a disappointing way to end the trip, but she returned home with many fond memories to cherish. "'When you are a little kid, you always dream of riding pro, or racing pro, so to win on debut (at Hangtown) was amazing.” Duncan is taking some time out after her concussion and intends to begin
her next quest along that road early next year. Whether she will return to
the United States or try her hand in Europe remains undecided. Photo - Matt Rice "I’m still
recovering from the knock to the head and I’m not quite ready to be back on
a bike yet but I definitely will be soon.” Duncan remarked. With her stunning performances against the women’s world elite in the
US, there is little doubt that Duncan will soon be back on the pace and going
quick enough to again beat the boys back home. And beating up the males is
just what she did in her last race meeting before heading overseas, when she
won the opening round of the New Zealand Motocross Championships in Timaru in
February. Courtesy of Yamaha Motor NZ. Words by Andy McGechan,
www.BikesportNZ.com |
storming
into the first turn in her first women's class race at the Amateur National
Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn's ranch in Tennessee when another
rider’s clothing snagged on her front brake lever, locking her wheel. She
was catapulted head-first into the ground and run over by several of the
following riders.