Newsletter

The official race report service of Kawasaki Racing Team.

30 Marzec 2019

Debut win for Courtney Duncan

Bike It DRT Kawasaki's Courtney Duncan stormed to an impressive victory in the first race of her career in Green in the first moto of the opening round of the FIM Women's World Motocross Championship.

The twenty-three year from New Zealand had quickly settled into a fast rhythm with third-fastest time during the morning qualification practice at the sandy Valkenswaard track in the south of the Netherlands and, as the series launched into afternoon race action, the Kiwi girl already sprinted to the front before the second corner. A slight error before the completion of the opening lap dropped her temporarily to third place but she had reassumed her position at the head of the pack within less than two laps to move relentlessly clear of her chasers to win the twenty-minute-plus-two-lap race by more than six seconds. She also set the fastest lap of the race, more than one second faster than any other girl.
 
Courtney Duncan: "I am just so thankful to be here, but it was tough. I haven't raced for nine months and I've only been with my new team for four days and we had just one day to practice in sand before we came here. I got a good start and could quickly hit the front. It is so great to win here in my first race on the Kawasaki; I've got to give it to the guys at Bike It DRT Kawasaki, Kawasaki Motors Europe, Kawasaki New Zealand and Monster Energy for showing their faith and giving me this opportunity. I love the Kawasaki. I rode a stock bike first and I already had a really good feeling; I like the way the KX250 handles, the way it turns and obviously the team prepared me a very good bike."
 
Australian Meghan Rutledge, making her return to the world scene with BUD Racing Kawasaki after a four year absence, held sixth place for five laps before a fall dropped her to an eventual ninth.