The opening day of racing at the Mini O’s in Florida set the tone for an intense week as the Women’s Supercross class kicked off with heat races and the LCQ. Fans were treated to high-level battles, standout performances, and a strong display of international talent.
Heat 1: Lotte van Drunen takes control after early challenge
In the first heat, Piper Bell powered to the holeshot, edging ahead of Lotte van Drunen on her Yamaha. Bell initially held her ground, closing the door through the opening lap, but the two-time WMX World Champion quickly found her rhythm. Lap by lap, van Drunen increased the pressure, eventually taking over the lead and pulling away with the victory—also setting the fastest time across both heats. Bell held onto second place after her excellent start.
Behind them, a four-rider battle unfolded for third. Quinn Sonnen emerged as the strongest, securing the final podium spot ahead of Taylor Miller, Kelsey Harris, and Zoe Moore.
Further back, Makenlea Hayes delivered a solid performance with a seventh-place finish, followed by Nevaeh Grzech and Lexi Gower. Elena Kapsamer had a rough start after being pushed wide in the first corner, but the Austrian rider stormed back from deep in the pack, charging into the top ten with an impressive pace.
Herrick Holds the Lead While Hodges Charges Through the Pack
The second heat saw Mayla Herrick grab the holeshot on her GASGAS, leading Mila Baltyk and Lucy Barker into the opening section. Barker capitalized on her strong start, moving into second place before the end of the first lap and put pressure on Herrick without being able to overtake her.
Meanwhile, Hannah Hodges, known for her aggressive and exciting riding style, had to work from behind after a poor start. She carved her way forward, overtaking Brianna Scheltema, Danielle McDonald, and eventually Baltyk to climb into third.
As the front of the field settled into a steady rhythm with two laps to go, the race seemed set—until Baltyk was forced to pull out before the finish, sending her to the LCQ for another shot at qualifying. McDonald crossed the line just behind the leaders, securing a strong fourth-place ride after an excellent season in GNCC competition. Scheltema followed closely, while Tinley McCoy impressed with a late charge into sixth. Kyleigh Hayes, Shelby Rolen, and Kiana Kurtz continued the tight mid-pack battle, with Lana O’Brien completing the top group after a great launch off the start.
The top sixteen riders from each heat earned their direct entry into the Women’s Supercross main event. The remaining competitors will line up for the LCQ, where only the fastest will secure the last available places on the starting gate.
