The Women’s World Championship final takes place this weekend in Darwin, Australia. This is a first for the women’s category. The battle for the title promises to be an incredible one between Lotte van Drunen, Daniela Guillen, and Kiara Fontanesi. Find out what’s in store this weekend.
Track overview: A mixed track
This brand new track, Hidden Valley Motorsports Complex, was created to host the MXGP World Championship for the coming seasons in Darwin. According to initial feedback, riders are enjoying this circuit, which combines sand and clay. The track measures 1610m and the first laps will take place in a few hours now with national championships.
Weather forecast: a sunny weekend
Most of the female pilots are already here adjusting to the time difference and the heat. Sunshine is expected this weekend, with temperatures above 30°C.
Championship leaders and key contenders
Lotte van Drunen arrives in Australia with a 16-point lead over Kiara Fontanesi and a 17-point lead over Daniela Guillen in the fight for the WMX World Championship title. Mathematically, anything is still possible, even if the Dutchwoman has a small margin. Kiara Fontanesi has already won three times this season; Daniela Guillen is looking for another.
Charli Cannon will also be competing on home soil. The question is whether the Australian will play a role in the title battle. Last year, she finished ahead of van Drunen in the final in Turkey.
Shana van der Vlist skipped Australia, leaving the other riders to fight for the fourth place she held. Larissa Papenmeier, Amandine Verstappen, and Martine Hughes are separated by only four points. The positions behind her are unlikely to change. Mathea Selebø could close in on the top 10 with a strong performance. We’ll be keeping an eye on the rest of the season for other drivers: Jana Sanchez, Alexandra Massury, Aneta Cepelaková and Nellie Fransson.
It will also be an opportunity to see Australian drivers compete against the best on the planet, although it’s difficult to know where they’ll finish. Taylah McCutcheon and Taylor Thompson will be the main contenders to watch. They finished second and third in the Australian Championship. We’ll also be watching Madi Simpson’s performance, as she’s capable of a crazy weekend.