Temperatures were already touching thirty degrees even before midday for the second moto at Imola in northern Italy and Courtney took a third-placed start behind her closest rivals for the title. Her line choice restricted by the girls around her in the tight-fought early laps Courtney actually surrendered a position on lap two and soon afterwards slipped off after touching the trackside bank. Rejoining the race twelve seconds down in fifth place she soon built her rhythm to close down the leaders at more than two seconds a lap on the 2020 KX250 Kawasaki which she had first taken to double victory at the previous round. With a series of dramatic passes inside and outside her rivals Courtney eventually took the lead with three laps remaining to come home winner by just over four seconds and complete her third consecutive double-victory of the series. The New Zealander is now twenty-three points clear of her closest rival and can now clinch the title with victory already in the first moto at the series finale in Turkey on Saturday September 7. Kawasaki also continues to lead the Manufacturers' standings, ten points clear heading to the final round.
Courtney Duncan: "That was probably the most difficult weekend of the year for me, but it all came good in the end and I came away with another double win; I have to thank my KX250, everybody at Bike It DRT Kawasaki and my inner circle for that. I found it difficult to find my flow all weekend and that second moto wasn't easy. I was riding a little cautious in the first few laps with the title in the back of my mind, but when I came back after my slip I saw I could catch up and you don't say no to a win if it's on."