Lockdown no time to be riding: Duncan
LOCKDOWN is a real goslow.
And world champion motocross rider Courtney Duncan is certainly missing the thrill of going fast.
But the 24yearold is taking the new restrictions on New Zealanders very seriously. She could have perhaps isolated on a farm somewhere and continued to go out training on her motocross bike.
But the way she saw it, that just would not be fair on everybody else who was making so many sacrifices as the country battles the spread of the coronavirus.
She leads the Women’s Motorcross Championship but, like just about every sporting event in the world, it is on hold due to the pandemic.
It is unclear whether the championship will resume this year. The schedule has been revised but Duncan is not confident it can continue as planned.
The next race meeting is scheduled for Italy in early July. But with that country in the most dire of struggles with Covid19, it is just a matter of time before those races are cancelled.
‘‘We are not really sure when we are going to return. There has been talk that perhaps at the end of July but I can’t really see that happening with the way things are going,’’ Duncan said.
‘‘Hopefully at the end of the year we get back racing but I think it is all up in the air.’’
Duncan returned from her base in the United Kingdom to Dunedin on March 9. She thought she was returning to do some training and then head back to Europe to complete the season.
It soon became obvious she would not be returning. New Zealand went into isolation on Wednesday night and Duncan has chosen to spend the fourweek lockdown period at her flat in Dunedin.
‘‘For me, riding was not an option. Even if I was to isolate at a farm somewhere, I’d find that a bit selfish when everyone else is making sacrifices at the moment and people are lying in hospital beds.
‘‘So I won’t be riding but I’ll be keeping myself fit at home. Hopefully the four weeks pass quickly.’’
Duncan is not sure how the title will be awarded or if it will be awarded should the championship be unable to resume.
‘‘We’ve never been in this position before, so we’re not sure. But I’m staying positive and hoping we can beat this as a country and the world can get back to normality.’’
❛ Hopefully at the end of the year we get back
racing but I think it is all up in the air