Interview with MXGP Champion Lottie van Drunen

There’s a new face atop the global women’s motocross movement - Lottie van Drunen – who rocks Monster Energy-backing with her De Baets/Yamaha team and stands atop the MXGP podium as the freshly-minted FIM Women’s Motocross World  Championship (WMX) victor.

Barely 17 years old and a year removed from her first full WMX competition season (moving up from a YZ 125 to the YZF250) where she won an impressive four races (seven podium finishes) in her ’23 MXGP series rookie campaign, Lottie stepped up this summer and, with a decisive 1-1 win at her home track in Arnhem, Netherlands, took a 17-point lead into the final round – and secured the 2024 MXGP WMX title.

Here stateside, Lottie made an immediate impact on her first trip to the U.S. back in November of 2023, sweeping both Women’s division titles (SX and MX) at the Thor Mini O’s at Gatorback MX Park in Gainesville, Fla.

Figure now would be a good time to introduce Lottie to the Monster Army boarders, bikers and everyone else who tips the M-claw cans. The Monster Energy MX community already knows very well who she is – and can’t wait to see her race here again in the States.

Monster Energy: At 17 years old you’ve only been racing in the WMX division for two seasons. You finished 3rd in your first year. Before the 2024 MXGP season started, had you set any goals for yourself in terms of this year’s WMX Championship? And what was your De Baets/Yamaha team strategy heading into this summer?

Lottie van Drunen: Yes, I always want to win. I broke my arm during winter preparation, but five weeks later I headed to Sardinia to start training with my new trainer. I had to fight through the pain all the time, but was determined to get that title no matter what.

ME: That’s awesome. You look to have had a good rivalry going this year with Italy’s Kiara Fontanesi and Spain’s Daniela Guillen. Talk about those racers, and any other MXGP WMX competitors that you battled with this summer and how you were able to prevail in the end.

LvD: I can say that I have improved a lot on the hardpack because last year I was nowhere close to those girls. But I think I can say that was the best (on the sand tracks) both years. Of course everybody improved, but so did I. In Riola (Spain) I came from last to first, which even I thought was incredible.

ME: Sure is. You’ve only recently been racing the GTYR-kitted Yamaha YZ250F. Talk about your relationship with Yamaha and how well the YZ worked for you these past two MXGP seasons.

LvD: I first got on the Yamaha in November of 2023 – on a track in the USA right before Mini Os. I loved the bike immediately. And you could see that after I won WMX MX and SX at Mini Os – and I had only rode the bike for two days! I love to be working with Yamaha and I’m very lucky to have this opportunity for two more seasons.

ME: You got off to a good start this year, taking 2nd at the WMX season opener in Spain, then won the following round in the sands of Riola Sardo, Sardinia and the 3rd round in Spain, Galicia. But maybe the most momentum for you came when you won for the third time (also in ’23, Lotte’s first WMX GP win) at your home circuit of Arnhem, Netherlands. This 1-1 victory gave you a comfortable 17-point lead heading into the final WMX round in Türkiye. Talk about your 1-1 performance in front of your hometown fans and what it meant to your WMX championship chase.

LvD: I think winning your home GP is something every rider dreams of and now I’ve done it twice with a 1-1. So that was quite amazing.

ME: Securing the WMX championship in Türkiye was a very emotional moment for you. For those who race motocross, or compete in any other sport at the World Championship level, it was very relatable to see the tears of joy as you were embraced by your father, friends, and members of the DeBaets/Yamaha team. Talk about that moment and what it meant to you.

LvD: I might be still very young, but also we have worked for so long  already and so hard. I can thank this all to my dad! I travel around the world with him no matter what. When others said “No,” my dad already had it done. We worked as a team this year with my family, trainers and Yamaha team. What I couldn’t do last year alone we did in one year together. So of course, after all the work and emotional times, it was an emotional one coming over the finish at Round 7 in Türkiye.

ME: At 17, you’ve got an amazing amount of time and races championships ahead of you. What are your plans for the rest of the year, 2025, and will motocross fans in the United States get a chance to see you race over here in the near future?

LvD: For this year I will go and race the Mini Os again because I loved it so much last year! And probably do some other fun races. For next season I will defend the title and hopefully race a lot of MX2 races (against the men). And I think I can speak for every European rider when I say ‘It’s a dream to race full time in the USA. But we will have to see what the future brings.

ME: Well, from everyone at Monster Energy in the States, a great big hug, high five and hearty ‘CONGRATULATIONS’ to you, Lotte. Your accomplishment this summer was amazing and we wish  you the absolute best with everything moving forward. And good luck at the Mini Os in November.

 LvD: Thank you.