Lotte van Drunen of the KTM Youth MX team is vice champion of the 85cc Big Wheel Open Dutch Championship series. Lotte came into the final round at Varsseveld having to score two third place finishes to secure second in the championship. She finished fourth in the first heat of the day, leaving her with a big ask in the final race of the series. After a titanic struggle, she secured second spot in the penultimate corner, and with second in the race, second place in the championship was in the bag.
Lotte has picked up loads of experience over the last few months. She participated in three rounds of the Italian Women’s series, a new experience on the hard tracks with elevation changes typical of that country. She even clinched one pole position, and finished fifth in two of the races, with a top ten in the grand final. She also participated in one ADAC Junior Cup race, where she finished fourth.
Back to the Varsseveld race. Lotte came into the race as one of the most talked about riders on the circuit, claiming podium positions and even a victory against riders of up to two years older than her.
Lotte qualified second, closely shadowing the pole position time. Some rain threatened early on, but the races got going under dry conditions. Lotte took the early lead in the race, and held that for two laps. Later on she lost two spots, and a wrong line choice in the penultimate lap cost her another spot, leaving her in fourth. Lotte was dissatisfied with this, and as per usual went to explore the track between the races.
The threatening rain finally came, turning the track into a mudbatch. Lotte launched 8th off the gate, but quickly made some passes. One lap later she had second spot in hand. A slide out on the slippery track created some panic, but she remained on the bike, although having lost a spot. Knowing that she absolutely had to finish second to secure the vice champion ranking, she went all out, making the pass in the penultimate corner to give her second spot.
Lotte finished second for the day and also in the championship. With the season done, Lotte’s work is not finished. She will continue her training program at home and abroad, and participating in races wherever possible.