Almonte, Spain – Dutch motocross star Lotte van Drunen will compete in the MX2 class at the second round of the FIM Motocross World Championship this weekend in Almonte, Spain. The 17-year-old reigning WMX World Champion confirmed her participation, citing a desire to build race rhythm ahead of the upcoming Women’s Motocross World Championship season.
Van Drunen’s decision to line up against the men in the highly competitive MX2 field comes after a dominant performance at the opening round of the 2025 WMX Championship in Sardinia, Italy, where she secured a perfect 1-1 moto score. Despite battling health challenges leading into the event – reportedly losing three kilograms during the week – van Drunen showcased her talent and mental fortitude.
“I lost three kilos during the week,” van Drunen revealed in a post-race interview, as reported by RacerX Online. “There were moments I wasn’t sure I could even race.”
This isn’t van Drunen’s first foray into MX2 competition. She previously raced and scored points at the MXGP of Flanders in Lommel, Belgium, last season. Still, the event in Trentino, Italy, marked her first Grand Prix on a hard-pack surface against male competitors. The Almonte event will provide another opportunity to hone her skills on a different terrain.
According to Yamaha Europe, van Drunen views the MX2 races as valuable training. “I demand to do some hard pack training,” she admitted. “And racing a rough GP track with some uphills and downhills is the best training possible, so that’s why I’ve decided to race MX2 in Trentino. I enjoy racing the boys and in MX2 and I also love Arco, I’ve had some good memories there.”
Van Drunen’s impressive resume includes back-to-back WMX World Championship titles, winning in 2024 and successfully defending her crown in 2025, despite recovering from a significant injury at the start of the season. She is the youngest champion in the history of the WMX class. She also secured the European Championship in 2023 and finished third in the Women’s World Championship that same year.
Born on August 9, 2007, in Gorinchem, Netherlands, van Drunen comes from a motocross family, with her father and three brothers also involved in the sport. She began competing at the Dutch National Championship at the age of six, and quickly established herself as a force to be reckoned with, winning multiple national titles and achieving a fourth-place finish at the FIM Junior World Championship in Australia in 2018.
The Almonte event represents a unique opportunity for van Drunen to test her skills against a different level of competition and prepare for her title defense in the WMX series. The Spanish track is known for its challenging terrain and passionate fanbase, providing a demanding environment for riders.
While van Drunen has downplayed expectations for her MX2 performance, focusing instead on the training benefits, her presence in the class is sure to draw attention and add an intriguing dynamic to the racing. She has stated she doesn’t expect anything beyond completing the qualifying race, which is the same length as a WMX moto, and using Sunday’s races as physical training.
Fans can follow Lotte van Drunen’s progress at the MX2 Grand Prix of Spain in Almonte this weekend, and anticipate her continued success in the WMX World Championship. The next round of the WMX Championship is yet to be announced, but details will be available on the FIM Motocross World Championship official website.
Archysport will continue to provide updates on van Drunen’s performance throughout the season.
Related reading
