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WMX, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey, 7 Settembre 2019

Courtney Duncan is World Champion with Kawasaki

Courtney Duncan achieved a lifetime ambition when she became FIM WMX Women's World Motocross Champion with Bike It DRT Kawasaki in Turkey today with her eighth victory in nine races this season.

The twenty-three-year-old from Dunedin on the South Island of New Zealand has dominated the series since joining Kawasaki at the start of the year and was again in outstanding form as she topped timed Qualifying practice by more than three seconds at the track built on the outskirts of Afyonkarahisar in central Anatolia. Leading the series by twenty-three points ahead of racing the Kiwi went to the start in the secure knowledge that victory in the first moto of this, the final round of the series, would ensure the title with a race to spare. Knowing that her race speed was significantly faster than the opposition Courtney sensibly didn't take any risks of a collision through the always hectic first turn and opening lap but she had already taken over third place ahead of her title rival on the opening lap and two laps later she swept into second place. On lap six she took over the lead, racing clear to secure her eighth victory in the nine races run so far this year by twelve seconds. Having extended her series lead to thirty-one points with a maximum of twenty-five points available in tomorrow morning's final moto she was met by a jubilant Bike It DRT Kawasaki crew at the finish line with a golden helmet to be crowned Women's World Motocross Champion.
 
Courtney Duncan: "I'm just lost for words; it's indescribable! I've expected big things of myself ever since I joined Kawasaki at the start of the year but I just had to take my time, learn from my mistakes and not quit. I've gone through hell in the past years to get here; I've had so many tough times and injuries. The track had changed a lot since our Qualifying this morning so I didn't take any chances through the opening laps; I knew what I had to do to clinch the title and it didn't matter if I won by thirty seconds or two as long as we got the job done. My big thanks to my family, my sponsors and everyone at Bike It DRT and Kawasaki for their support. This is the biggest day of my life; just love you all!"
 
The latest victory also extended Kawasaki's lead in the Manufacturers' classification to fifteen points and a top eleven finish in tomorrow morning's final moto will also secure this honour.