RIOLA SARDO (Sardegna, Italy) 6 April 2025 – The 2025 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship roared to life in Sardegna with two gripping races at the iconic sandy circuit of Riola Sardo. A true test of physical and technical skill, the weekend delivered everything from dramatic crashes to stunning comebacks — and at the centre of it all was De Baets Yamaha MX-Team’s Lotte van Drunen.
Returning from an off-season injury, no pre-races and fighting illness just days before the race, the reigning World Champion showed exactly why she’s known as the Queen of Sand, sweeping both races with clinical composure and tremendous pace. With emotional highs, painful setbacks, and fierce battles from the likes of RFME Spain National Team’s Daniela Guillen, Van Venrooy KTM Racing’s Lynn, and Shana van der Vlist on Yamaha bike, round one laid down an early marker: this WMX season is going to be intense.
The Race 1 began with Shana van der Vlist grabbing the holeshot, while Van Drunen and Guillen slotted in closely behind, already showing strong pace through the opening lap. The deep sand of Riola Sardo — a favourite among winter training tracks for many WMX riders — proved to be the perfect stage for a high-speed showdown between the series’ top contenders.
As the front group of Van der Vlist, Van Drunen, Guillen, and Lynn Valk began to break away, Home hero MXFontaRacing’s Kiara Fontanesi also started making her presence known, working her way into the top five with a charge that saw her pass Amandine Verstappen.
By lap four, Guillen made an assertive move past Van Drunen to move into second, clearly signalling her intent to dominate the weekend. One lap later, she dived down the inside of Van der Vlist to snatch the lead and began building a gap, setting the fastest pace of the race and looking untouchable at the front.
Behind her, Van Drunen refused to give up. After reclaiming second on lap eight with a clean pass on Van der Vlist, the Dutch star set her sights on Guillen, whose lead hovered around 2.5 seconds. Meanwhile, Valk continued her strong ride, moving past Van der Vlist into third and applying pressure as the race entered its final stages.
But with just over a minute and two laps to go, disaster struck. Guillen, pushing hard, caught a rut before a jump and crashed that left her unable to restart the bike immediately. What had looked like a sure win suddenly turned into a costly error, as Van Drunen surged past into the lead.
Guillen eventually rejoined the race but dropped down to 10th but got disqualified for for accepting outside assistance which isa heartbreaking starting race for the Spanish star who had controlled much of the race and looked set to take a decisive win.
Out front, Van Drunen maintained her composure, holding off a late charge from Valk, who was just 2.5 seconds behind on the final lap. A backmarker ultimately blocked any chance of a last-second challenge, handing Van Drunen the win with a margin of 3.6 seconds at the line. Seeing the Defending World Champion very emotional to get the win after her injury at the end of last year. Further back, SYE Racing Team 423’s Larissa Papenmeier who, incredibly is riding her 20th WMX season finished in the top 10 in 8th.
Race 2 bursts into life with a lightning start from Lynn Valk, who took the holeshot and looked poised to control the pack. Lotte Van Drunen tucked into second, but was quickly passed by Shana van der Vlist, who began to build early momentum. Meanwhile, Daniela Guillen, determined to rebound from her Race 1 heartbreak, made quick moves through the pack after an average start and was already into sixth on the opening lap.
Kiara Fontanesi also enjoyed a strong launch, riding inside the top five alongside Sara Andersen, who slotted into fourth. At the end of lap one, the running order was Valk, Van der Vlist, Van Drunen, Andersen, Fontanesi, and Guillen — a stacked front group full of the season’s favourites with everything to play for.
But the race turned on lap two. Valk crashed out of the lead, handing first position to Van der Vlist, while Guillen surged past Fontanesi making a superb pass around the outside of Fontanesi to take fourth, showing incredible traction and speed; and soon found herself pressuring Andersen for third.
By mid-race, Guillen had set her fastest lap and was under a second from Andersen, but a small mistake dropped her back to four seconds behind the Danish rider. Moments later, Valk — on a mission after her early fall — regrouped and stormed past Guillen on lap seven, reclaiming third in a brilliant display of resilience.
At the front, Van Drunen had been shadowing Van der Vlist lap after lap. With just under two minutes plus two laps to go, she launched a perfectly timed attack over the finish jump, taking the lead in style. Once in front, Van Drunen pulled clear instantly, showing once again why she holds the #1 plate.
With two laps to go, Valk repeated Van Drunen’s move — this time on Andersen — to grab third. Andersen, solid all race long, narrowly missed out on the podium, while Fontanesi’s hopes faded after a late crash.
Van Drunen claimed her second victory of the weekend to open the 2025 FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship with a perfect score. The defending World Champion showed patience and precision for a well-earned first round after not being sure she could even line-up after being sick during the week. The Queen of Sand has started the season with a bang!
Lotte Van Drunen: “This was perfect for the Championship! It’s been a very tough winter I can tell you that and not just the last one but over the past 3 years too but to win again is unbelievable and I’m really looking forward to the next round. We’re gonna train on hard pack now because we haven’t done it in the winter. Thanks to everyone around me and on to the next one!”
Main Photo: Lotte Van Drunen
Top Photo: WMX Start Sardegna
Bottom Photos: 1.Shana Van Der Vlist; 2. Lynn Valk
WMX - Race 1 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, Yamaha), 24:11.902; 2. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), +0:03.650; 3. Shana van der Vlist (NED, Yamaha), +0:11.655; 4. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), +0:37.012; 5. Sara Andersen (DEN, Yamaha), +0:50.245; 6. Martine Hughes (NOR, Kawasaki), +1:01.948; 7. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Yamaha), +1:15.161; 8. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Honda), +1:29.042; 9. Danee Gelissen (NED, Yamaha), +1:29.945; 10. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GASGAS), +1:47.765
WMX – Race 2 - Top 10 Classification: 1. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, Yamaha), 24:21.344; 2. Shana van der Vlist (NED, Yamaha), +0:10.339; 3. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), +0:21.186; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, Yamaha), +0:27.477; 5. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GASGAS), +0:53.414; 6. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), +1:19.309; 7. Martine Hughes (NOR, Kawasaki), +1:27.965; 8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, Yamaha), +1:28.630; 9. Danee Gelissen (NED, Yamaha), +1:29.197; 10. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Honda), +1:46.161;
WMX Overall - Top 10 Classification: 1. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, YAM), 50 points; 2. Shana van der Vlist (NED, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), 42 p.; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 33 p.; 6. Martine Hughes (NOR, KAW), 29 p.; 7. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GAS), 27 p.; 8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Danee Gelissen (NED, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, HON), 24 p
WMX World Championship - Top 10 Classification: 1. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, YAM), 50 points; 2. Shana van der Vlist (NED, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), 42 p.; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, YAM), 34 p.; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 33 p.; 6. Martine Hughes (NOR, KAW), 29 p.; 7. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GAS), 27 p.; 8. Amandine Verstappen (BEL, YAM), 27 p.; 9. Danee Gelissen (NED, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, HON), 24 p
WMX Manufacturers - Top 10 Classification: 1. Yamaha, 50 points; 2. KTM, 42 p.; 3. GASGAS, 34 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 29 p.; 5. Honda, 24 p.; 6. Triumph, 16 p.;
Photo: WMX Podium Sardegna
MXGP OF SARDEGNA QUICK FACTS:
Circuit length: 1750m
Type of ground: Sand
Temperature: 20˚/17˚
Weather conditions: Sunny / Cloudy
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