WMX 2020 FIM Motocross World Champ – Results!
GP of TRENTINO – PIETRAMURATA, 31.10.2020
Ecco i risultati dell’ ULTIMA prova del Campionato del Mondo Femminile, WMX la gara del GP in TRENTINO sul tracciato della pista di PIETRAMURATA è la finale degli appuntamenti stagionali, oggi si è incoronata la Campionessa, i risultati (Sabato si corre sempre prima della MXGP e MX2), di seguito trovate tutto, con gli Highlights video delle manche!
Buona visione!
WMX RACE 1
WMX RACE 2
WMX Race Highlights round of Netherlands 2020
WMX OVERALL
WMX POINT CHAMPIONSHIP
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COURTNEY DUNCAN AND DRT KAWASAKI RETAIN THE WMX WORLD TITLE
Courtney Duncan and DRT Kawasaki sensationally clinched their second consecutive FIM World WMX Women’s Motocross Championship title after an enthralling final round at Pietramurata in northern Italy.
Starting the final round of the series four points shy of the points-leader the twenty-three year old from Dunedin in New Zealand immediately stamped her authority on the event by claiming pole position in Qualifying but her immediate rival for the title parked directly inside Courtney at the start gate for race one and the Kiwi girl found herself on the ground halfway to the first corner as they touched. Losing twenty seconds to the race leader before turn one, and separated by twenty-six other riders, the Kawasaki girl kept a cool head and started an unbelievable catch-up race; already thirteenth by the end of the opening lap, but continually forced to leave the ideal racing line to make passes, she was third by the end of lap four but the gaps to the girls ahead were enormous as the leaders had enjoyed a free track. Just past half-distance in the twenty-minute-plus-two-lap race Courtney moved into second place but the race leader, at that moment also virtual leader in the points chase, was still twenty seconds ahead. But the girl in Green refused to surrender. Relentlessly closing down her rival she jumped into the final lap on the leader’s rear wheel and swept majestically to the front with a decisive move around the outside at the next turn to hold the inside at the following corner and come home winner by just over two seconds. The six-point last lap turnaround meant she carried a five-point advantage over each of her closest rivals into the final moto of the series. Each of the title candidates steered clear of trouble at the start of race two with Duncan initially fourth; secure in the knowledge that third place would be sufficient to retain the world title, no matter how her rivals fared, she took over that position with a neat inside pass on the opening lap, advancing to an even more secure second on lap three before settling into a solid error-free rhythm. Backmarkers made life ever more hectic as the race entered the closing laps and the Kiwi girl sensibly avoided potentially dangerous situations to bring it home third, sufficient to secure not only her second consecutive world title with Kawasaki but also her fourteenth career GP victory from twenty-five starts.
Courtney Duncan: “It’s just an unbelievable feeling right now ! I dreamt of these days when I was a kid; I’ve worked fifteen years of my life for moments like this. This year has been so full of uncertainties with Covid and our own challenges. Like the crash in Mantova when I got back to my bike and the bars were snapped; it felt as though the championship was gone in the blink-of-an-eye and I’m so proud how we fought back, stayed positive and confident to come out on top for a second year. Massive thanks to the entire team – you can’t do it alone ! – but we got it done. There was so much pressure on each of us coming to the final round with the points so close; it was a matter of winner-takes-all and you have to rise to the occasion. I actually got more excited by the situation. These are the moments that count; I stood up and rose today and that’s why I’m champion. I fell down at the start of the first race but thankfully some more went down at turn two; I just never gave up, put it behind me and concentated on pulling back as many places as I could. Potentially I got a few gifts, particularly when Larissa fell on the last lap, but I gotta thank my crew for keeping me posted; I’m proud of the way I stayed composed and I was just in my zone all race. Such a crazy race and it put me in the right position before race two. I knew the points so I didn’t need to take any risks. I stayed out of the chaos and tried to stay focused through the last laps but I don’t want to take it away from the girls in front who were riding so good; I let it play out in front of me and took the overall today and the championship. It was so close in the end. We were all put under-the-pump knowing it was tight coming to the final round but thankfully I got that moto win in race one and that made the difference. I just want to enjoy this one this evening but 100% sure I want to make it a three-piece with Kawasaki next year !“
BUD Racing Kawasaki’s Amandine Verstappen unfortunately had to sit out the final round of the series after a routine Covid-19 test during the week proved positive. The Belgian girl shows no symptoms but of course the first responsibility of both rider and team was for the communal welfare. Despite missing three rounds of the series for a variety of reasons she was eventually ranked a respectable fourteenth.
Amandine Verstappen: “Unfortunately I could not race the final of the Women’s World Championship this weekend in Italy. I tested positive for Covid-19 this week. I have no alarming symptoms, but I am unable to travel to Italy. It is very frustrating; I have taken care and every precaution for several months and then learning this verdict. I would like to thank all my Team Bud Racing Kawasaki for their support and the partners. See you in 2021. “
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Duncan seals the deal for a second consecutive WMX World title!
PIETRAMURATA (Italy) 31 October 2020 – New Zealander, Courtney Duncan of DRT Kawasaki has made history once again, as she claimed her second world title in the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship at the final round here in Pietramurata, Italy.
The WMX championship came down to the final race today, as four riders were all in contention of grabbing the title. With just 10 points separating Nancy Van de Ven of Ghidinelli Racing, who led the championship coming into the round of Trentino, Duncan, MXFonta Syneco’s Kiara Fontanesi and Larissa Papenmeier of Yamaha Racing 423, the action today was next level, as each one of the riders gave it their all for the chance to take home the gold plate.
And there was plenty of drama in the races, starting with the opening heat which saw Duncan, Van De Ven and Fontanesi go down in the start, while Papenmeier grabbed the holeshot and led the way comfortably.
Duncan though was not looking to waste any time, as she pushed hard throughout the race, making some very quick passes, which saw her move into the top three on the fourth lap of the race. Meanwhile, Van De Ven and Fontanesi were also making good progress and were pushing inside the top 10.
The top 4 ladies didn’t let off, as they each pushed for vital championship points, though the closing stages of the race saw more drama and this time it was for the race leader, Papenmeier, who had a nice 10 second gap to Duncan in second, but a small mistake which resulted in a crash, in the corner before the finish jump, allowed the Kiwi to close in on Papenmeier and eventually pass her for the win. Papenmeier held on to second, with JK Racing Yamaha’s Lynn Valk having a fantastic ride to finish third ahead of Shana Van der Vlist and Van de Ven having to settle for fifth.
The second race was the last opportunity for Duncan, Van De Ven, Papenmeier and Fontanesi to do something about the outcome of this championship. And for Van De Ven it was a complete turnaround of the opening heat, as she took the holeshot and led every lap of the race from start to flag. While she led the way, the battle was heating up behind her, as Fontanesi, Van der Vlist, Duncan and Papenmeier battle it out for top scoring positions.
All eyes were focused on the nice battle between Fontanesi and Duncan which carried on for 6 laps, before the Italian was eventually able to find her way through on the DRT Kawasaki rider. The pair then pushed their way onto the back of the race leader, though Van De Ven was able to handle the pressure and take the race win, but it was not enough for her to secure the title this time around. Fontanesi crossed the line to finish the race second, while Duncan was third.
By the end of the race, both Van De Ven and Duncan were tied on 207 points, with the championship being decided on race wins and it was those 5 race wins, in Matterley Basin, Mantova and Trentino today, which helped Duncan secure the gold plate for the second year in a row. Van De Ven was forced to settle for a silver medal this season, as she finished the year with her second race win and a fourth podium finish. While Papenmeier secured bronze with two overall victories in Valkenswaard and Mantova and four podiums this season.
The podium today was exactly the same as the championship standings, with Duncan celebrating her title on the top step of the podium, with Van De Ven second and Papenmeier finishing third on the box.
Courtney Duncan: “Coming into the final round we knew it was going to be close. All the girls are riding really well, and the points were separated by ten. We were probably all put under the pump this weekend and thankfully I got that race win in the first race, because Nancy and Kiara were on it in that second one and set a really good pace. I’m so grateful, I’ve had a lot of tough times to come through and to get this championship, it feels really good. A huge thanks to the team, everyone back home that’s supports me and all the girls for a really good challenging year. It’s good for the fans who are not here and watching on TV and when a championship is close, I think everyone enjoys it. We will enjoy this one!”
Nancy Van De Ven: “The crash in the first race and mistakes in the beginning of the year made it really hard for me and what can I say, what’s worse than getting second in the championship with the same points”.
Larissa Papenmeier: “It was really close, anyone of us four could be world champion, so you had to fight until the last minute. I had a good first heat, unfortunately I tipped over, but it was my own mistake and I finished second. Nothing was lost by then, but my second heat wasn’t that good. The others were better, Courtney for sure deserved it, I think if she stays on the bike, she’s fastest on the track so she deserved it for sure. Congratulations to her. Being third overall in the world championship is not bad, for sure I’m fighting for first but I’m not giving up yet.
Main Photo: FIM/CMS Director Antonio Alia Portela, Nancy Van De Ven, Courtney Duncan, Larissa Papenmeier, Infront Moto Racing CEO David Luongo
Bottom Photos: 1. WMX Start; 2. Courtney Duncan
TIMETABLE (Local Timing CET)
SUNDAY: 08:15 MX2 Free/Time Practice, 09:15 MXGP Free/Time Practice, 11:05 MX2 Race 1, 12:05 MXGP Race 1, 14:00 MX2 Race 2, 15:00 MXGP Race 2.