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Motocross

Courtney Duncan Takes WMX Round Two Win in Portugal

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Kiwi rider Courtney Duncan took the lead in the FIM Women‰Ûªs Motocross Championship after double wins at the Portugal round this weekend. Credit: Yamaha Racing
Altherm JCR Yamaha‰Ûªs Courtney Duncan has claimed her second career double victory after taking victory at the second round FIM Women‰Ûªs Motocross Championship in Portugal.

Round two was played out over 2 days on changing conditions from a rutted and technical track Saturday to a soft and tricky surface Sunday.

Race 1 was perfect for Duncan, after taking the fastest lap of timed practice she carried her speed forward taking the lead off of the start and never looking back. Behind Duncan was Nancy van de Ven every lap of 11 lap journey.


Last week‰Ûªs overall winner and red plate holder coming into the weekend was Larissa Papenmeier who started third but was then passed by the 2017 champion, Yamaha‰Ûªs Kiara Fontanesi, on lap two. Only one lap after passing Papenmeier the #8 crashed and dropped back to eleventh position.

Papenmeier ended up retaking third after Fontanesi‰Ûªs fall and KTM Silver Action‰Ûªs Amandine Verstappen moved to 4th. At the finish of Race 1 Duncan beat van de Ven by 13.9 seconds as Papenmeier took third, Verstappen fourth, and Fontanesi recovered to seventh.

In Race 2 Larissa Papenmeier shot into the lead ahead of Fontanesi, Duncan, Shana van der Vlist, and van de Ven. After the first official lap Duncan made it past Fontanesi for second and van de Ven found her way around van der Vlist.


As van de Ven started to chase down Fontanesi, Duncan had her eyes set on the lead of Papenmeier. On the fifth lap of the ten completed Duncan made a pass stick for first position, nevertheless Papenmeier continued to charge and keep pressure on Duncan who kept nervously looking back.

On the final laps Duncan managed to regain a gap over Papenmeier and the rest crossing the line 8.7 seconds ahead of second. Duncan‰Ûªs double race wins not only gave her the overall but also the championship leaders red plate.

Papenmeier‰Ûªs 3-2 finishes secured her second over van de Ven‰Ûªs 2-4, the struggling Kiara Fontanesi redeemed her Race 1 finish of 7th with 3rd in Race 2 for 4th overall, while Verstappen rounded out the top five. The top five finisher‰Ûªs championship position is now identical to their overall finish today.
The WMX class hit the first turn at round two of the 2018 championship in Portugal. Photo: Youthstream.
Aussie Emma Milesevic finished 13th in Moto 1 and 28th in Moto 2 for 17th overall. She now sits 18th in the championship

‰ÛÏIt was a really good weekend and I‰Ûªm stoked with how it ended up. I was on pole in qualifying then was able to go 1-1 in both races,‰Û
Courtney Duncan, Larissa Papenmeier and Nancy Van De Ven on the podium. Photo: Youthstream
WMX Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Yamaha), 25:58.334
2. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:13.921
3. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), +0:20.979
4. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), +0:47.222
5. Natalie Kane (IRL, Honda), +1:00.360
6. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), +1:01.841
7. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +1:44.668
8. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:47.562
9. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +1:52.861
10. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), +1:57.506.

WMX Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Yamaha), 27:23.210
2. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Suzuki), +0:08.728
3. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:39.342
4. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, Yamaha), +0:46.404
5. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), +1:15.421
6. Anne Borchers (GER, Suzuki), +1:58.644
7. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), +2:10.496
8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), +2:38.547
9. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s)
10. Kimberley Braam (NED, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s).

WMX Overall Top Ten:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 50 points
2. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 42 points
3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 40 points
4. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 34 points
5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 31 points
6. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 29 points
7. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 28 points
8. Shana van der Vlist (NED, KTM), 26 points
9. Natalie Kane (IRL, HON), 26 points
10. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), 23 points

WMX Championship Top Ten:
1. Courtney Duncan (NZL, YAM), 90 points
2. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, SUZ), 87 points
3. Nancy Van De Ven (NED, YAM), 80 points
4. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, YAM), 74 points
5. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, KTM), 67 points
6. Stephanie Laier (GER, KTM), 58 points
7. Natalie Kane (IRL, HON), 53 points
8. Virginie Germond (SUI, KTM), 45 points
9. Anne Borchers (GER, SUZ), 44 points
10. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 36 p.

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