The talented fifteen-year-old, not old enough to contest the series last year, was in control all day at the deep sand track overlooking the Mediterranean, clearly topping both practice sessions and leading this afternoon's first twenty-minute-plus-two-laps moto from start-to-finish to claim victory more than thirty seconds clear of second place. The second moto will take place on Sunday morning.
 
Lotte van Drunen: "I've been here training a few weeks ago so I knew the track but it's amazing to win my first GP moto in my very-first race for Kawasaki. I got the holeshot and could ride my own race. I'm so happy."
 
Three-times champion Courtney Duncan was equally impressive as he charged through to third from the back of the pack on her Big Van World MTX Kawasaki after being severely hindered out of the gate as rivals banged bars. The collision left the New Zealander dead-last but she scorched through to twelfth already by the completion of the opening lap and kept pushing to reach her eventual third place by half-distance.
 
Courtney Duncan: "The start killed my chances but I was proud of my fight; dead-last to third in sand is like a win for me. It was my first race this season so I'm still a little rusty but it's a solid start to the season. We'll be good."