Four-time WMX world champion Courtney Duncan returns to competition this weekend for the first round of the WMX series in Lacapelle-Marival, France, following a long hiatus of more than a year during which she was unable to compete.
Initially, the New Zealander was not on the official entry list, so her return is a very welcome surprise for fans and the paddock. Duncan will compete on a Kawasaki with support from Steve Dixon.
“2025 was tough for sure. I got diagnosed with pericarditis; a lot of people probably don’t know what that is but it’s a virus on the heart – I just got forced to rest. I think I was off the bike for around nine months. I couldn’t train at all, it’s just a virus that come with some gnarly symptoms, kind of like EPB sort of thing. I just had to take my time, not push it and here we are, it feels good”.
“Honestly we really don’t know where I’m at. I haven’t done a whole lot of racing yet, I’ve done a few club races, but I haven’t done a whole lot so we’re just going to take it race by race. I will just go out there tomorrow and wherever I’m at, that’s the building blocks to get back to hopefully the top step”.
