Women MX World Championship 2020 enters Final Round at MXGP of Trentino this weekend with the world’s best MX women competing for coveted Title. As anticipated, the final 2 races will be highly contested amongst top ranking riders with only 10 points separating top 4 positions.
Current Red Plate holder Nancy Van de Ven claimed back-to-back wins in Round 3 R2 and Round 4 R1 to take the #1 spot 4 points ahead of 2nd place Courtney Duncan. Van de Ven also recently won Dutch Women MX Championship 2020 putting #85 on consistent momentum path heading into Final Round in 2 day’s time.
Duncan, standing on 162 points, has all to gain by taking the WMX Championship for second year in a row. Having banked 4 wins from 8 races this year, the Kiwi is likely candidate to stand top of podium. Pressure to perform with ‘no mistakes’ upper-most in mind will be CD’s mantra for the one-day 2 race schedule under cooler climes on 1st day of November.
3rd standing Larissa Papenemier rests comfortable knowing the Team Yamaha Racing 423 rider won at same venue at WMX Opening Round in 2018. Placed only 2 points shy of Duncan on 160, Lare has proved consistency of results remains key to close points position nailing back-to-back wins in WMX Rounds 2 and 3, 3 seconds and third from 8 gate-drops.
If home GP provides rider advantage, WMX 6x Champion Kiara Fontanesi can take heart that any success gained at Trentino will be welcomed amongst her fans, even though none are allowed in to watch. In just over 8 WMX races back from taking year off to welcome daughter Skyler in 2019, Kiara commands utmost respect on what the new mum has achieved taking Round 2 R1 win, a second and 3 thirds this season.
To mix top 4 standings up will be Lynn Valk who gained impressive 3rd at WMX Opening Round at Matterley along with Sara Andersen whose perfection of hole-shots ramps up pressure entering Lap 1. Unfortunately Line Dam and Amandine Verstappen won’t make Final Round with Dutch rider Shana van der Vlist capable of edging into top 6.
Australian rider Tahlia O’Hare has made nice improvement this season placed 10th Overall along with American newbie to scene Jamie Astudillo in 11th. Germany’s Anne Borchers slots in 9th.
From first Women MX World Cup in 2005, won by Stephanie Laier, to Women MX World Championship Title in 2019 won by Courtney Duncan, there have been only 5 Women MX Champions. Quite amazing given Series has spanned 15 years. Honoring previous Champions Katherine Prumm (now Oberlin Brown) Livia Lancelot, Kiara Fontanesi along with Steffi and Courtney, WMX Championship remains pinnacle of MX racing whereby seasoned and young up-coming riders vie to showcase their talents on the world stage.
WMX Final Round at MXGP of Trentino November 1st.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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