Duncan and van de Ven rose to the challenge, each finding lines carefully in the soupy ruts. Lap times rose dramatically however, as sands began to absorb the rain and traction shifted underneath the race. In the second moto Duncan's fastest lap came at 2:23, and at the end van de Ven's average speed of 34.43km/h was markedly slower than Duncan's winning 46.40km/h on Saturday.
On Sunday van de Ven passed Duncan in the final laps to win the wet, sloppy moto, and tens of thousands of Dutch and international motocross fans rose to their feet in support as she crossed the line in triumph. On Saturday the Dutchwoman's fifth place was not enough to overcome her points gap to first in the 2016 WMX Championship, but in her final race she found victory and relief.
Duncan won the overall at Assen with a second-place on Sunday, and finished the 2016 WMX Championship fifth overall, 18 points back from Fontanesi in fourth. Van de Ven clinched second with a 58-point lead over Germany's Larissa Papenmeier, and a 24-point deficit to France's Livia Lancelot.
Yamaha won the Manufacturer's Title in the 2016 WMX Championship with a combined total of 323 points, 21 points clear of second-place Kawasaki and 65 points ahead of third place Honda.
Main Photo: Courtney Duncan and Nancy van de Ven
