Dunlop 1-2 in WMX at MXGP of Germany
- Courtney Duncan takes first WMX win on Dunlop Tyres
- Kiara Fontanesi makes it a Dunlop 1-2
- Two-fourths in MXGP & MX2
New Zealand’s Courtney Duncan took her first win after switching to Dunlop tyres at the third round of the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship (WMX). The Yamaha racer had a perfect weekend by winning both races, claiming the overall Grand Prix victory and topping the standings in the Championship to take the coveted red plate.
Fellow Yamaha racer and reigning champion Kiara Fontanesi (Italy) was strong all weekend having topped the timed practice sheet. In the first race the Italian led from the first lap until the final two laps when Duncan made an outstanding overtaking manoeuvre round the outside. In race two Duncan and Fontanesi held the 1-2 from the first lap to the finish. After holding the top three positions in timed practice there were hopes for an all-Dunlop podium. However, Amandine Verstappen, the Belgian KTM racer, suffered a heavy crash in race one, finishing 23rd which then impacted on her performance in today’s race in which she finished tenth.
In the WMX standings, Duncan leads with 141 points, Fontanesi has moved up to third with 118 points and Verstappen is in seventh (78 points). Three of the six rounds remain with the next event taking place at the MXGP of Lombardia on 16th/17th June
In MXGP, Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) finished fourth in the GP after crossing the line fifth and fourth in the two races. He now is third in the title battle. Evgeny Bobryshev (Suzuki) and Jeremy Seewer (Yamaha) both finished in the top-ten.
Briton Ben Watson (Yamaha) narrowly missed another MX2 podium finish, taking fourth in the event. Germany’s Henry Jacobi (Husqvana) and Italian Michele Cervellin (Honda) finished fifth and sixth respectively. Jago Geerts (Belgium/Yamaha) rounded out the top-ten. Watson is the highest-ranked Dunlop rider, lying fourth in the MX2 championship with Geerts, Jacobi and Cervellin following in seventh, eighth and tenth.
Tyre Choice: Dunlop riders all used the new Dunlop Geomax MX33 multi-terrain tyre front and rear.
The next event, the MXGP of Great Britain, takes place on 2nd June.
Eddy Seel, Dunlop Event Leader:
“That was a great round for our WMX riders. It is great that Courtney could take both wins and of course the red plate. Her riding was excellent so she deserves it and Kiara had a good GP too and is definitely still in title contention. In MXGP Clement rode another consistent race and was again so close to taking a podium. Our MX2 riders are also riding well with Ben being close to the podium as well. He is showing good consistency so I’m sure he will be lifting a trophy again soon.”