02-03-2026	International News
Lotte van Drunen Opens Dutch Season with Dominant Victory

Lotte van Drunen of De Baets Yamaha AIT Racing immediately showcased her class at the Dutch MX Season Opener in Lierop. The two-time WMX World Champion delivered a flawless race day in the combined 125cc/WMX class and underlined her status with an emphatic double victory.

The De Baets Yamaha AIT Racing rider started the day strongly by setting the fastest lap time in qualifying practice. She immediately sent a clear message that she had come to Lierop for nothing less than the win.

In the motos, Van Drunen left no doubt about her intentions. With two excellent starts and a high, consistent pace, she controlled both races from start to finish. In both the first and second moto, she built up a commanding lead and rode unchallenged to victory.

It was also a special occasion, as Lotte van Drunen lined up in the Netherlands for the first time with her new race number — the highly coveted #1 plate of the reigning world champion. A number she honored in style with her dominant performance in Lierop.

With maximum points and an impressive showing, the tone for the new season has been firmly set. Van Drunen demonstrated in Lierop that she fully deserves her world title and is determined to reinforce that status.

Alongside Van Drunen, Dex Kooiker also delivered a strong performance in Lierop. Despite a crash in the first moto, he managed to recover and finish in an excellent second place. In the second moto, he crossed the line in fourth, securing second overall for the day.

Torre van Mechgelen finished fourteenth and ninth in the two motos. He was running with the leading group in the first race, but a crash on the second lap disrupted his chances of a stronger result.

Vencislav Toshev and Cole McCullough competed in the 250 class. In this highly competitive field, Toshev finished twentieth and eighteenth. McCullough suffered a setback in the first moto and did not reach the finish, but in the second moto he recovered to claim 22nd place.

In the coming weeks, the team will continue its preparations for the opening round of the EMX Championship in Spain.

 

Fotos:Niek Kamper

Online: Stefan Uhlmann