GUILLEN RISES ABOVE TO WIN FIRST WMX ROUND ON HOME SOIL IN SPAIN.
The season opener at Intu Xanadu Arroyomolinos marked a captivating start for the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship in what promises to be an exhilarating and competitive season. With a lineup full with talent and determination, anticipation in WMX run high and it didn’t disappoint with an incredible first round in Spain.
It was RFME GASGAS MX Junior Team’s Daniela Guillen who emerged triumphant, demonstrating that she took full advantage of the amazing home fans support throughout the weekend. She clinched victory in Spain and claimed the coveted red plate, showing an immense grit until the very last moment. The stage is set for a very competitive season.
De Baets Yamaha MX-Team’s Lotte Van Drunen got off a good start in Race 1 but it was defending champion and number 1 Courtney Duncan from F&H Racing Team quickly took the inside and led the race straight from the first corner. Schmicker Racing’s Lynn Valk and Daniela Guillen sneaked in on Van Drunen to get into 2nd and 3rd respectively after a couple of turns. MXFONTARACING’s Kiara Fontanesi was right behind the front quartet.
Guillen, in front of a loud home crowd that came to cheer and support her, made a succesful pass on Valk to get to second and close in on Duncan. Meanwhile Van Drunen went up to 3rd following a nice move on Valk and was let with a clear track in front of her but could not do anything about Guillen and Duncan who were flying.
It was meant to be for Guillen on this opening round on home soil as she pushed Duncan to the fault after relentlessly put pressure the Kiwi. While the Spaniard committed to the outside on a corner, Duncan missed the breaking point and tipped over. Duncan down, Guillen went through to take the lead and was on fire to bring it home and show great composure to clinch an impressive first race win.
While down, Duncan had to see Van Drunen flying past her in what must have been a frustrating mistake from the number 1. Van Drunen finished second while Duncan controlled her pace to get the 3rd place.
Valk had to pass the checkered flag in 4th position in front of Fontanesi 5th. The favourite contenders for the title all responded present to the first race of the series.
In Race 2, Van Drunen started strongly while Guillen 4th after the first corner passed Duncan and Valk to move up 2nd in the opening lap.
Duncan who was 3rd fell down in the opening lap to move down to 22nd.
Guillen pushed to stay in contact with Van Drunen who at that point was on the top of the podium. Both riders were on a league of their own as the gap with Sara Andersen in 3rd was around 35 seconds mid-race.
From halfway point, Fontanesi made her way up to 6th and even finished 5th in the end for 5th overall. Duncan who was making her way up but made another mistake and found herself just outside the points. In the end, it was not the Defending Champion day, as the New Zealander finished 19th for a 9th place overall.
The battle between Van Drunen and Guillen heightened with fans sensing the urgency and started rally behind the Spanish rider. Van Drunen hanged on while she could but on lap 7, Guillen passed the young Dutch in front of the pitlane as fans were on their feet.
This intense battle was only starting as with 2 laps to go, a backmarker invited herself to party as Guillen’s flow got disrupted trying to pass her. Van Drunen took the chance to show more than a wheel. Right until the last turn Guillen had to give her whole to maintain the lead the overall win. The Spaniard finally made the last jump in front and won at home on the opening round of the season. Van Drunen, 2nd on the podium will be happy to have started this way as she displayed grat speed throughout the whole weekend.
Completing the podium, and marking the day with her new bike and team, Valk controlled her race in 4th to make it to the podium, making it 3 podiums in a row counting last season while Andersen narrowly missed the podium with a 3rd place and 4th overall.
Daniela Guillen: „It’s amazing, I cant even speak! I want to say a big thank you to the fans because the Spanish fans were amazing… wow! The second race was amazing with Lotte (Van Drunen). It was tough battle but I want to thank the team because they did a great job with the bike and I feel good with it. Winning here at home is an amazing feeling and I’m so happy! See you next round with Red Plate this time“
WMX – Race 1 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GASGAS), 24:17.366; 2. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, Yamaha), +0:04.978; 3. Courtney Duncan (NZL, Kawasaki), +0:18.316; 4. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), +0:46.013; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), +1:08.068; 6. Martine Hughes (NOR, Kawasaki), +1:11.497; 7. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +1:13.630; 8. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Honda), +1:21.829; 9. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), +1:28.521; 10. Shana van der Vlist (NED, Yamaha), +1:31.322
WMX – Race 2 – Top 10 Classification: 1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GASGAS), 24:33.314; 2. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, Yamaha), +0:00.472; 3. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), +1:23.893; 4. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), +1:27.387; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GASGAS), +1:29.442; 6. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, Honda), +1:30.023; 7. Martine Hughes (NOR, Kawasaki), +1:49.277; 8. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), +1:53.776; 9. Danee Gelissen (NED, KTM), +2:00.620; 10. Jana Sanchez Nequi (ESP, Yamaha), +2:03.383;
WMX Overall – Top 10 Classification: 1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GAS), 50 points; 2. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, YAM), 44 p.; 3. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), 36 p.; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 32 p.; 6. Martine Hughes (NOR, KAW), 29 p.; 7. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, HON), 28 p.; 8. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 22 p.; 10. April Franzoni (FRA, HON), 20 p
WMX World Championship – Top 10 Classification: 1. Daniela Guillen (ESP, GAS), 50 points; 2. Lotte Van Drunen (NED, YAM), 44 p.; 3. Lynn Valk (NED, KTM), 36 p.; 4. Sara Andersen (DEN, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Kiara Fontanesi (ITA, GAS), 32 p.; 6. Martine Hughes (NOR, KAW), 29 p.; 7. Larissa Papenmeier (GER, HON), 28 p.; 8. Malou Jakobsen (DEN, KTM), 25 p.; 9. Courtney Duncan (NZL, KAW), 22 p.; 10. April Franzoni (FRA, HON), 20 p
WMX Manufacturers – Top 10 Classification: 1. GASGAS, 50 points; 2. Yamaha, 44 p.; 3. KTM, 38 p.; 4. Kawasaki, 34 p.; 5. Honda, 28 p.; 6. Husqvarna, 7 p
Text/Bild: Infront