Lachlan Turner Maintains Championship Lead with Gritty Runner-Up Finish at High Point
It was a double podium finish for BLU CRU champions, with reigning World Champion Lotte van Drunen joining Turner on the overall podium at the High Point National / Jun 24, 2026 /
Champions always find a way. At Round 3 of the WMX Championship at High Point Raceway, reigning champions from both sides of the Atlantic showed their resilience, with defending WMX Champion Lachlan Turner and reigning FIM Women's Motocross World Champion Lotte van Drunen both finishing on the overall podium.
For Turner, the Altus Motorsports BLU CRU Yamaha rider was fresh off another dominant victory at the previous round at Thunder Valley Motocross Park, but unfortunately came down with an illness after the Colorado round and was still under the weather in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania. Despite feeling less than 100%, Turner dug deep and charged from eighth to third in Moto 1.
“I was sick all week and in bed every day before High Point,” said Turner. “On Friday, we had a decent practice, but in the moto, I didn't get the best start. I was quite far back, and I had to work my way up. I was ripping. I worked my way up to third. I feel that if I had one more lap, I could've gotten first or second. I was literally right there at the finish line, but that’s racing. It was a good moto.”
Turner once again put in a gritty ride and showed her speed in Saturday’s Moto 2. After the restart, she grabbed the holeshot and built a comfortable lead before a crash with two laps remaining dropped her to second. The result secured second overall on the day.
“I got a horrible start in the first gate drop,” said Turner. “I was in the pile-up after the start, but there was a red flag and a restart. I made the most of that and pulled the holeshot. I was leading and had like a 10-second lead with two laps to go, then I got cross-rutted. I fell and hit my chest, and I finished second. Overall, it was a decent weekend for being sick. It's lit a fire underneath me to get better.”
Although it wasn't the victory she was chasing, Turner's 3-2 moto scores were enough to maintain her nine-point championship lead heading into the midseason break.
Joining Turner on the overall podium was fellow BLU CRU Yamaha rider Lotte van Drunen. The rider from the Netherlands who also has a proven championship pedigree, made the leap to come overseas and race the WMX Championship in the U.S., with Slade Racing/HGS/Monster Energy/Fox stepping up to support the effort, which came together quickly for the reigning FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion.
In just her second round in the series, van Drunen showed the speed to run up front and overcame adversity to finish third overall with 2-4 moto scores at High Point Raceway. In Moto 1, she got a great start and slotted into second and finished there. In Moto 2, van Drunen had mixed fortunes. She grabbed the holeshot but then had a technical issue before the red flag was drawn. After the restart, she found herself at the back of the field. Undeterred, van Drunen stormed from 22nd to fourth by Lap 5 and maintained that position to secure third overall.
“Yesterday was pretty good,” said van Drunen. “Today I had some bad luck. I pulled the holeshot, and my holeshot device got stuck. Then there was the red flag, I hope she’s okay, and gets back soon. Starting without the holeshot device – it’s just impossible, but it wasn’t my best ride, either. I’m happy to be here. I’m happy to be on the podium, and maybe I’ll come back.”
The WMX Championship now heads into its midseason break before returning to action August 15 at the Unadilla National in New Berlin, New York.