At 18 years old, Lotte van Drunen( De Baets

Yamaha) is a two-time World Champion. The Dutch teen sealing the season in Darwin with a display well beyond her years as she rode smart, relinquishing positions rather than risk all when she knew a couple of top-tens would secure her season. In the opening foray, van Drunen rode to a solid third place, making the final race a case of keep upright, stay out of trouble and concede the battle for the front, where she got to before easing back. Finishing a solid fourth, it was enough to take third spot for the round, finishing out a year where she didn’ t step onto the podium only once. Naturally, being a Kiwi magazine, we look forward to our own Courtney Duncan taking to the track next year and seeing if she can’ t stop van Drunen’ s crack at the tree-peat.

KIWI RIDER 95