Lotte van Drunen Opens WMX Title Defence with Fourth Overall in France

Lotte van Drunen has launched her defence of the WMX World Championship with a resilient fourth overall at the MXGP of France. The two-time champion faced adversity early in the opening race after a heavy crash but demonstrated remarkable determination by recovering from last place to finish ninth. She then improved her performance in the second race, securing a podium finish in third and consolidating her position as a strong contender for a third consecutive title. Van Drunen’s weekend began positively with a third-place qualifying time, setting the stage for competitive racing. In the first race, she initially led the pack but slipped to third before her crash over the finish line jump. Despite the setback, the 18-year-old Dutch rider’s recovery highlighted her skill and tenacity. The second race saw her adopt a more cautious approach on a heavily watered track, enabling her to climb from seventh to third and finish comfortably ahead of her rivals in fourth overall. The EMX125 series also resumed in France, featuring strong performances from the MJC Yamaha Official EMX125 Team. French rider Sleny Goyer impressed on home soil by achieving third overall, marking his third podium finish in as many rounds this season. Meanwhile, New Zealander Levi Townley made a notable return from injury, finishing fifth overall after consistent results in both races, signalling a promising comeback with five rounds still to go in the championship. Looking ahead, van Drunen will continue her title defence at the next WMX round in Germany, which also marks the resumption of the EMX250 season. The EMX125 Championship will proceed alongside the MXGP of Latvia in early June, providing further opportunities for emerging talents like Goyer and Townley to build on their recent performances. The French round has set a competitive tone for the season, with riders eager to challenge for honours across the various classes.