WMX Round 6 produced superb racing with Lotte van Drunen taking top step of the podium and retaining the Red Plate. At just 17 years of age, Lotte commands nice 17 point buffer overall to second placed rider – Daniela Guillen – with fellow Dutch rider Lynn Valk third on 204 points.
Equally impressive was F @ H racing rider Courtney Duncan who smashed her previous pace on sand out of the track-paddock, closing the gap to Lotte in the last laps of Race 1 to 3.475 seconds and Race 2 to 3.129 seconds. Duncan produced an electrifying performance to finish P2 overall, proving that hard work, dedication, and determination to raise her game outside known comfort zones remains top of priority list heading into the Final Round in Turkey on September 8.
For both Van Drunen and Duncan, decisions made only 9 months ago have proved invaluable with Lotte switching from Kawasaki based F @ H Racing Team to Yamaha’s De Baets MX Team, and Courtney moving from UK based Dixon Racing Team to F @ H Racing in the Netherlands. Lotte has ramped up her stamina racing under pressure against more seasoned rider’s and Courtney has gained maximum advantage training in the sands of the Netherlands as opposed to the loamy dirt in the UK.
Such results speak volumes on the changing nature of racing WMX from one season to the next. For starters, Lotte is racing her second full season having made debut entry in the Final Round at Turkey in 2022, followed by finishing P3 overall in WMX Championship in 2023 – taking 4 wins including her first GP win in Round 5 at Arnhem. With only 8 points needed over and above Daniela to secure the WMX Title in Turkey, Lotte looks set to make history as the youngest rider to win Women’s Motocross World Championship in the history of the sport.
Secondly, Courtney’s master performance on sand casts out the shadow of sustaining an injury mid-season which put the Kiwi track-side at Round 4 in Germany. For certain, missing a Round when there are only 7 in the season means major disappointment for securing maximum points over 14 races. For CD, such scenarios give rise to proving strength of character matters the most when digging deep to produce best possible results even when the odds are stacked against taking the Title overall.
The unique aspects of racing WMX highlights the extreme physical, mental, and technical elements these women manage to achieve desired goals during a race season. From the calendar schedule which places Rounds 1 – 7 from March through to September, to racing hard pack to sand to wet muddy tracks affected by rain, rider’s remain resilient to the shift in context on how to produce best possible performances under duress.
All of which makes racing the Final Round at Turkey in 3 weeks time a deal-breaker. Yes, confirmation of 2024 WMX Champion will be the focus of rider, fans, and followers watching track-side. So to will goals set by rider’s wanting to complete 2024 WMX season feeling a sense of accomplishment – including knowing where improvements can be made heading into 2025. As each rider lines up for the last Round of the season, let’s wish our best to all rider’s as we have to wait 5 long months before we can enjoy it, all again.
Header photo: WMX podium at Round 6 at MXGP of Arnhem Image: MXGP
Words: Sharon Cox.
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