Two races, two wins - Palmerston motocross rider Courtney Duncan has taken the women's world motocross championships by storm.
Duncan (20), who was making her first appearance at this level, won the first race of the Qatar round by just over 27 seconds at the man-made track in Losail. She followed that up with another victory, this time by just over 28 seconds.
Both times she finished ahead of Livia Lancelot, of France, who has twice been women's world motocross champion.
World champion Kiara Fontanesi, of Italy, also trailed Duncan. Duncan told the Otago Daily Times from the airport at Doha last night before heading back to New Zealand, it was a great feeling to get the win.
‘‘I'm definitely happy after today's result going 1-1 in debut and to have the red [series leader's] plate heading into round two is definitely a good feeling,'' she said.
‘‘The plan is to be at round two at Holland, in the sand, in a month's time but obviously, there's a lot of planning to do first.''
Duncan is coached by former world No2 Josh Coppins, and had her stepfather and first coach, Noddy Turner, beside her in Qatar. But she could feel the support from back home.
‘‘All my family and friends and the community ... watched it.
''This race was actually a form of a trial for Duncan.
If she performed well, the Yamaha factory would consider supporting her in the remaining five world championship rounds.
Duncan, returning to competition after a serious knee injury kept her out of racing for nine months, has won every race since her comeback last month.
In Qatar, she qualified fourth-fastest and in the first race, fought her way to second and then passed Lancelot with 10 minutes to go.
In the second race, she was third after the first turn, but quickly took the lead and was never seriously challenged.
