Reigning double WMX World Champion Lotte van Drunen has officially confirmed that she will race with the prestigious number 1 plate in the 2026 season. The Dutch rider made the announcement through a video shared on social media, ending months of speculation after previously hinting at the decision.
In 2025, van Drunen chose to retain her familiar number 401, despite being eligible to switch. For 2026, however, she has decided to embrace the honor that comes with wearing number 1. In the WMX World Championship, the defending champion has the exclusive right to choose whether to race with number 1 the following season or keep their existing number — and no other rider is permitted to use it.
Historically, only a select few riders have chosen to carry the iconic number 1 in the WMX World Championship. Katherine Prumm, Steffie Laier, and Courtney Duncan all raced with the number and successfully defended their world titles, making them the only riders to have done so to date.
By choosing number 1 for 2026, Lotte van Drunen becomes just the fourth rider in WMX history to take on this symbolic plate. The question now is whether she can follow in the footsteps of those champions and once again claim the world title while wearing number 1.
The answer will begin to unfold in just a few months as the new season approaches.
