Courtney Duncan on medal course

Courtney Duncan has made a significant return to the FIM WMX Women’s World Championship, climbing to third in the overall series standings after a challenging weekend at Teutschenthal in Germany. Riding a stock KX250 from DRT Kawasaki, Duncan narrowly missed out on the podium in just her second race back following a year-long absence due to health issues. Despite the setbacks, the four-time world champion demonstrated strong pace and resilience, securing a third-place finish in the opening moto and battling through difficulties in the second to finish fifth overall. The weekend’s races highlighted both Duncan’s skill and the ongoing challenges she faces in regaining her peak form. After a promising start in the second moto where she was running second, she suffered two falls that dropped her down the order. Nevertheless, her determination saw her claw back to tenth place by the final lap, underscoring her competitive spirit even after a lengthy hiatus. Her overall fifth place left her just one point shy of third in the weekend standings, but crucially it was enough to elevate her to third in the championship points ahead of the British Grand Prix in July. Reflecting on her performance, Duncan acknowledged the progress she has made while recognising there is still work to do to fully return to race speed. She described the first moto as a marked improvement from the previous week and praised her strong start in the second race despite the challenging track conditions. However, she admitted to making “silly mistakes” and noted that her fitness and race rhythm remain areas for development. Duncan remains focused on gaining more race experience to rebuild confidence and consistency on the bike. Looking ahead, Duncan’s return injects renewed excitement into the championship as she aims to regain her dominant form. With the British GP approaching, she expects to have had sufficient time to improve her fitness and race sharpness. While she is not yet focused on the title chase, her performance trajectory suggests she will be a formidable contender as the season progresses. Her resilience and determination to overcome adversity will be key factors in her pursuit of further success in the WMX series.