Kiwi Courtney Duncan is still soaking in yet another defence of her crown as the world's premier women's motocross rider.
On Sunday (NZ time), Duncan secured her third successive women's motocross world championship, after a strong final day of the season, wrapping up the title with a third place in the first of two races in Italy.
Duncan sealed the title with a race to spare, after a crash by her main rival, Italy’s Kiara Fontanesi meant she only needed a top-three finish.
The victory eased the pressure on the 25 year-old, as she went on to claim the last race of the season for good measure.
"The three-peat means a lot," Duncan tells Newshub.
"To win one is tough and then to be able to back it up year in and year out is tough. It's not easy to do, so to be able to do that means a lot to me. It's a relief to just get it done really."
As Duncan was being showered with champagne on the podium, her family back home weren't wasting a drop.
"It's only our third bottle, so I hope I don't swear," says mother Linda Duncan, who - unable to watch her daughter live - had to rely on updates from a friend.
"You have to wait for the replay. I knew what was going on but to not be able to watch it live was frustrating."
Duncan's win is a big reward after a testing year. On top of COVID-19 restrictions, being unable to return home, and injuries, her grandfather passed away in July.
The Kawasaki rider now faces the challenge of securing an MIQ spot to return home, and even three-time world champions aren't guaranteed a lottery win.
"I'm unfortunately not getting home anytime soon, unless I get a lottery in the next couple of weeks," Duncan says.
"Fingers crossed."
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