Lotte van Drunen and Kjell Verbruggen of the KTM Youth MX team opened the Dutch motocross championship season in style at Boekel. Lotte finished second in the 85cc class and Kjell was sixth on his debut in the 250cc class.
For Kjell the wait was also near unbearable. The Dutch series finally kicked off five months after originally planned. The 250 class attracted a huge entry, and the track was busy during qualifying, which meant that Kjell battled to find a clean fast lap. He still managed to qualify fifth.
Kjell bulleted off the start and launched into the first corner in the lead on his KTM SXF250. He was forced wide, though, which cost him four positions. He pushed his way back up to third, and was opening up a gap on fourth when he crashed. This cost him his rhythm and eventually dropped him to fifth by the fall of the flag.
Kjell had another good start in race two and was in third position. The heavy track was playing parts with his rhythm, and this time he only managed seventh.
“It was a positive day all in all,” he said. “MC Boekel organized a perfect event, and I learned a lot. The track was very heavy in the second race, and I am not quite used to that on the bigger MX2 bike, but I found it to be an extremely educational outing. I am happy overall and will take the experience with me to the next race.”
Lotte van Drunen has been looking forward to this race for a long time. This being her first year in the 85cc big wheel class, she was not exactly certain of where she would slot in. The track at Boekel is a tricky sand affair, and this promised some tough races. Lotte proved that she had the sheer speed, by qualifying third.
Lotte stormed into the first race in no uncertain fashion, claiming the holeshot. She held the lead for a while, but finally got displaced late in the second lap. She kept the new leader under pressure, and finished second, just five seconds adrift. This was a stunning debut for the young lady.
Lotte checked out the track again with her trainer and her brothers between races. Her bike bogged bit off the start in race two, but she shifted perfectly, and again lead the pack into the first corner. The track had by now become very heavy, with deep ruts and bumps. As in the first race, she held the lead for a lap and then had to yield. Again she had enough in her armory to hold onto second place. This brought her home for a near unthinkable second place.
Overall Dutch Open 85cc Boekel:
1 Bradley Mesters 100 Pnt
2 Lotte van Drunen 90 Pnt
3 Damien Kuiman 79 Pnt
4 Mirco ten Kate 77 Pnt
5 Roan Tolsma 75 Pnt
Overall Dutch Open 250 Boekel:
1 Roan van de Moosdijk 100 Pnt
2 Mikkel Haarup 90 Pnt
3 Mathys Boisrame 82 Pnt
4 Youri van’t Ende 71 Pnt
5 Marcel Conijn 70 Pnt
6 Kjell Verbruggen 70 Pnt