'A glimpse of my old self': Courtney Duncan claims first podium since heart condition sidelined her

Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Kiwi motocross legend Courtney Duncan is fired up for more after her first WMX podium following a long illness.

Four-time world champion motocross racer Courtney Duncan has claimed her first podium finish of the season after missing an entire year of competition due to a heart condition.

The Dunedin racer took third place overall at the Monster Energy MXGP of Great Britain at Foxhills, finishing second and third across her two races for the England-based DRT Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team.

Duncan was sidelined for the entire 2025 racing season with pericarditis, which caused swelling and irritation of the thin tissue surrounding her heart.

Duncan, right, stands on the podium following the third round of the 2026 FIM Women's Racecross World Championship.

“Obviously, it’s been a really long road to get back here. It’s easy to forget that it was only 12 months ago that I was struggling to do an indoor spin bike for 30 minutes. It’s pretty cool to be back battling with the world’s best and running back up front,” Duncan said.

In her opening race, Duncan charged through the field after starting outside the top 15. She passed Great Britain’s Lucy Barker for third, then overtook Spanish rider Daniela Guillen on lap six to finish second, just over a second behind race winner Kiara Fontanesi of Italy.

Duncan is riding for the England-based DRT Kawasaki MX2 Racing Team.

“In that first race I came in one second shy of the win, so that was awesome considering I started outside the top 15. It was a nice charge and I guess a little glimpse of my old self there,” Duncan said.

She secured third place in the second race after making a clean start, holding her position behind Guillen and Fontanesi.

The performance moved Duncan into third place in the 2026 FIM Women's Racecross World Championship standings with two rounds remaining. She sits 39 points behind championship leader Fontanesi and two points behind Guillen.

“We are still not quite back to where we want to be, or where we know we can be, but we are definitely making the steps in order to get back there. Naturally as a racer, the further I get up there, the more I want. I’m super happy but I want more and I am going to keep working until I get there. I want to get a win sooner rather than later,” Duncan said.

The next round of the championship takes place in the Netherlands on August 22-23, before concluding in Darwin, Australia, on September 19-20.

“It’s all coming together and hopefully it won’t be long before we are back on that top step,” Duncan said.