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WMX, Kegums, LATVIA, 29 Veebruar 2020

Victorious start for Courtney Duncan and DRT Kawasaki

DRT Kawasaki and Courtney Duncan launched a dream start in the defence of their FIM World WMX Women’s Motocross Championship titles with an overwhelming victory in the opening moto of the 2020 series.

The New Zealander sensibly sat out the sighting lap as rain showers returned to Matterley Basin in southern England in the late afternoon and sought for ever-changing track conditions. Using KX250 power and clean tyres to ensure a rapid getaway Courtney took over the lead already at the third turn but did not panic as another girl threw caution to the winds to move ahead before the end of the opening lap whilst the Kawasaki girl carefully studied the ever-changing lines. By lap three she was ready to move and, setting the fastest lap of the race by several seconds, moved ahead again to immediately open up an extensive lead which she cleverly maintained to the finish to win by more than eleven seconds.
 
Courtney Duncan: “I knew I had to be aggressive at the start in these conditions to get a clear track and clear vision and after that I just rode smart. You can so easily lose championships on days like this but I found a good pace to take the lead on lap three; my pit-crew was keeping me informed and I could see Kiara coming but I kept an eye on her, did what I had to do to maintain my lead and could cruise at the end. “
 
It was a day of fluctuating fortunes for the BUD Racing Kawasaki duo. Amandine Verstappen started well to hold down a strong fourth position in the early stages until she fell victim to the conditions while US champion Jordan Jarvis, a guest starter fort he weekend, found herself nearly last of the forty starters after an early incident in the tricky conditions. Setting leaderboard lap times in traffic the American advanced consequently to earn a deserved seventh place at the chequered flag.