Dixon Racing Team Kawasaki’s Courtney Duncan maintained third place in the FIM WMX Women’s World Championship standings with her first podium of the season in the British round of the series at Foxhills Moto Parc.
Words | Press release
The New Zealander, still searching for the ultimate pace which brought her four world titles between 2019 and 2023 as she recovers from missing the entire 2025 season through sickness, qualified fourth in Timed Practice but was outgated at the start of race one on Saturday afternoon to be recorded in sixteenth position at the first timing split.
With a typically determined opening lap she had already advanced to fourth at the end of the first lap and on lap two moved into third on one of the long climbs. Already four seconds behind second and a further four to the leader she faced a long chase but, lapping significantly faster than either of the girls ahead, she took over second through the waves on lap six. The leader was still six seconds clear but Duncan dug deep and was in the wheeltracks of her rival going into a pulsating final lap as they weaved their way through a string of lappers. The Kawasaki leader came so close to an inspired victory but had to be satisfied with second, headed by just one second as each of the leaders set their own personal fastest lap on the final circuit.
Extensive overnight track work left the circuit less technical for race two on Sunday morning but caution was necessary through the opening laps as the circuit had been rendered slippery by the essential watering to counter potential vision difficulties though dust. The Kiwi raced into an immediate third and enjoyed a spirited duel with the red-plate holder through the opening laps before the points-leader eventually made the position her own
Duncan regained third on lap four as she leapt past a fast-starting rival but the top-three positions were already secure and she had to be satisfied with third in moto and third overall over the weekend. The result consolidated her third place in the championship standings; she trails the two leaders significantly but she is now eleven points clear of fourth with two rounds of the series remaining.
«The first moto yesterday was definitely a step in the right direction. The speed was there, the fitness too. I was a bit of my old self again; I just need to get off the start. The improvement was just down to plain and simple hard work and I loved the track with the hills and the off-cambers; it was real old school motocross. It would have been nice to have won or been second but I’m stoked to be back on the box and can be proud of the improvements we have made during the last six weeks; I’m not quite back to where I was but I’m well-and-truly on my way and my thanks to all those who have helped me get here.»
