The rising Dutch teen motocross star Lotte Van Drunen just returned home to the West Sliedrecht near Rotterdam after achieving a great 4th place finish in the 65cc World Cup, organised together with the FIM Junior World Championship in Horsham, Australia.
Lotte has had a great 2018 season. In addition to her Australian success she won the Euro Cup 65cc North-West Zone event in Denmark and finished 2nd in the German event. She finished 2nd in the NW zone and qualified for the Euro-finals in Loket, Czech Republic, were she finished 10th.
-The victory in Denmark and the 4th place in the 65cc World Cup in Australia are my best memories from my motocross career so far!
Seven years ago, when Lotte was 4 years old, she went with her father and brothers to the motocross track to watching them riding. She liked it very much and soon started riding herself. For the last 5 years she has ridden a lot and in 2016 she became the first girl ever to win the Dutch Championship in the 50cc class. The year after, she stepped up to the 65cc class and finished second in the Open Dutch Championship 65cc (small wheels).
-As a future goal, I hope to win the Open Dutch Championship (ONK) 65cc. When I get older I look forward to riding the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship but I also want to try to compete against the boys.
Among her sport idols are the Dutch FIM Women’s World Championship rider Nancy van de Ven and her fellow countryman FIM MX1 World Championship rider Jeffrey Herlings. Besides her great interest in Motocross, Lotte tells us that she does gymnastics (every Monday) and boxing in the winter, because it also helps her to get better in motocross!
-I would like to tell other girls, if you want to make it in the boys’ world, just practise a lot (I practice 5 – 7 times a week, riding on a track and making a lot of laps laps laps), eat well, take good rest and listen to the people who want to help you get better.
And also do not forget have a lot of fun!
With her very friendly and professional manner, Lotte can inspire a lot of young girls, not only in motocross but also in other sports. With her fine riding technique and great starts, she has shown the world and the boys that she can be a future champion. We wish her the best of luck in the future!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETj4Vib35Hs&feature=youtu.be
Video made by Hammer Photography (Maggie Hamilton and @hammer.photography, @m.aggiehamilton)
Photos: MX Index and Youthstream
Text: Peter Isgren