With two rounds to go in the world motocross series, Dunedin rider Courtney Duncan is closer than ever before to securing her maiden world series crown.
The 22-year-old leads the circuit by 21 points with two events remaining but with a break in her schedule, she's enjoyed the chance to relax at home and reflect on what has been a near perfect season.
"No place like home," she said.
"Very happy with how the season's gone. If you had of asked me at the start of the year had I been four rounds into the season and had a 20 point lead, I would have been really stoked with that."
Despite being one of the top riders for the previous two seasons, Duncan's never held a lead like this going into the final two events of the season.
It means winning those final few races might not even be necessary – a thought she admits has crossed her mind.
"You do have that in the back of your mind - you don't have to go crazy to get those extra three points to take the win.
"I think I even showed that at the last round where I had two second [place finishes]. I didn't exactly need to [win] there."
That's not always been the case for Duncan who in previous seasons felt winning was the only option.
"If it takes a third place and I’m champion, at the end of the day, honestly, it doesn’t matter because my goal is to be world champion."
The mid-season three month break came at the perfect time for Duncan as she nurses fractures in her right foot.
"I'm not stressing about it, we've got a bit of time on our hands and I just have to make sure that I get healthy and fully heal before I start back."
Duncan returns to her European base in Brussels next week, before the final two events in September.
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