Women Motocross World Championship heads to Round 3 at MXGP of Sardegna with 3 Dutch rider’s taking top spots in the 5 Round Championship with Lynn Valk (JK Racing Yamaha) holding the Red Plate on 98 points followed by Nancy Van de Ven (Ceres 71 Racing) on 91 and Shana van der Vlist on 68.
Valk had tremendous double moto victory at WMX Round 2 in Portugal which has set precedent that the 19 year old has eyes firmly set on Overall victory in her 5th season racing the best women motocross riders in the world.
Van de Ven notched up her 1st win of the season in Race 2 at WMX Opening Round in Mantova, coupled with 2-2 at Agueda to stand 2nd Overall in Championship. Shana Van der Vlist steered her KTM for consistent results with podium finish in Race 2 at Portugal while Larissa Papenmeier and Amandine Verstappen remain locked in 4th and 5th Overall heading into Round 3 this weekend.
Defending WMX Champion Courtney Duncan endured crash at Round 2 with injury putting the Kiwi out of Race 1 and 2, though come-back has been relatively quick with CD entered to race the new MXGP venue at Sardinia.
Nice mix up of standings has come from Honda 114 Motorsports rider Martine Hughes who achieved debut podium at Mantova, followed by 2 Danish riders: Malou Jakobsen and Sara Andersen sending their KTM’s to stand 7th and 8th on the table respectively. Italian rider, Giorgia Balsigh has enjoyed switch to Nancy’s Ceres 71 Racing Team, previously racing under GASGAS last season standing 9th Overall with Livia Lancelot’s 2nd female rider, Tahlia O’Hare rounding out top 10 positions.
With WMX entering new track circuit of MXGP Sardegna, riders comfortable in sand will be on point, and no doubt starts will be key to gaining gap out front of competitive field. Given it has been 6 weeks between Rounds 2 and 3, and then change-up of 2 weeks to Round 4 at MXGP of Spain, all riders will be fiercely determined to nail as many points as possible.
And for sure, Courtney Duncan will be ready to stamp her ground up front, making an exciting weekend of racing in a couple of days time.
Header photo: WMX Round 2 MXGP of Portugal Image: MXGP
Words: Sharon Cox.
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