Lotte Van Drunen open 2025 WMX season with perfect score

De Baets Yamaha Supported MX Team’s Lotte van Drunen has kicked off her FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship title defence by taking overall victory at round one of the 2025 campaign in Riola Sardo, Sardinia. The talented Dutch racer won both races aboard her GYTR-kitted YZ250F, and now leads the championship standings by eight points heading into the second round in Spain next month.

Words | Press release

After recovering from a broken ankle during the off-season, van Drunen picked up a stomach virus in the days leading up to round one of the WMX World Championship. Despite the unfortunate setback, the 17-year-old headed to Sardinia focused on picking up vital championship points.

By posting the fastest time in Time Practice, van Drunen headed to the line for both races with first gate pick. In Race One, she started up front and settled into third place behind race leader Daniela Guillen and Shana van der Vlist in second. Van Drunen then moved into second on lap seven, and one lap later, while closing in on Guillen, she took over the lead when her Spanish rival fell. The defending WMX champion then maintained her pace to pick up her first race win of the season.

WMX RACE 1 HIGHLIGHTS

The opening laps of Race Two were very similar to Race One for van Drunen, who ran third initially before moving into second on lap two. She then chased down van der Vlist, who led the way on her Yamaha, before she made the pass for the lead with three laps to go. By race end, the Dutch sensation had opened up a 10-second advantage to claim her fifth GP win of her career, with van der Vlist finishing second to make it a Yamaha 1-2 on top of the overall podium.

WMX RACE 2 HIGHLIGHTS