Never mind that she is a female in a male-dominated sport, or that she is up against boys who are much bigger, stronger and older.
Courtney (13), a year 9 pupil at East Otago High School, has just returned from the world junior motocross championships in Taupo, where she was the only female competitor.
She finished sixth in her grade, out of 40 riders.
Competing in the 85cc 12-15 years age group, she finished ninth and fourth in her races, for an overall placing of sixth, just one point behind the fifth-placed rider.
She also teamed up with Hamish Dobbyn, of Warkworth, for third place in the Nations Trophy Category.
"It was pretty nuts. People were just pushing and barging all the time. I was one of the smallest as most of the riders were 15," she said.
"I didn't expect to do as well as I did. I surprised myself."
She was back training yesterday on the paddock behind her house in Palmerston for the Australian junior motocross championships near Melbourne next month.
Her big goal was to compete at next year's world junior motocross championships in France.
But getting a bike and rider to France is not cheap.
"I'd like to go, but it's going to cost thousands to get there."
