Lotte Van Drunen (Yamaha), from the Netherlands, came over and raced the 2023 event winning both SX and MX in the Women 12+ class in her first race in the United States. Van Drunen bested Jordan Jarvis, Kyleigh Stallings, Mayla Herrick, Viviana Contreras, Shelby Rolen, and a handful of other fast WMX racers. Then this year, at just 17 years old, Van Drunen became the 2024 FIM WMX World Champion in August. And after she gets the sand out of her boots from her latest multiple-hour beach race in the United Kingdom, we expect to see her racing again in several different classes again this year at Mini O’s.

Kawasaki-mounted Landen Gordon won five total titles at the 2023 event and will be a key A rider in this year’s event as he transitions from the B class. It was a battle of Landen vs Landon the last year as Husqvarna-mounted Gibson made progress in his first full year on the 250F. Luke Fauser (KTM) also claimed two B Class SX titles of his own. Fauser will contest the A and Pro Sport classes this go-round.

Double ’23 Mini O’s and ’24 125cc Loretta Lynn’s winner and new to the 250F Owen Covell (Yamaha) will be a rider to watch as he transitions to the big bike. Florida native Seth Dennis (KTM) claimed three supermini titles in 2023 and he’s now onto a 250F full-time as well.

Tristan Prueitt (Husqvarna) won six total titles aboard an 85cc bike in 2023 and now is set to race his Husqvarna TC 125 this year. Gage Dunham (KTM) battled Prueitt and claimed two 85cc MX titles last year. While riding a KTM, Tayce Morgan won an 85cc title of his own.

In the vet classes, it was not shocking to see Mike Brown (KTM) and Heath Harrison (Honda) claiming race wins and titles in their respective classes. Brown tallied seven titles by the end of the week, Harrison four. Steve Roman (Kawasaki) claimed a vet title last year too as he continues to battle following his professional racing career.

2024 Preview: Riders to Watch

As mentioned, Long, who took second to Cole Davies at the SMX finale, will also be a top BluCru rider to keep tabs on. After returning from his injury, he had a strong year in the A class. The Minnesota native is on the cusp of racing professionally himself, and another great week in Florida could improve his stock within the pro paddock.

Canyon Richards has split from the NSA Factory Yamaha Team and has been riding a KTM lately as the #316 will be a rider to keep an eye on in the B class. New to the 250F, fresh off a big year at Loretta Lynn’s Aidan Zingg (Kawasaki) has joined the Team Green program and will debut on his new KX250. Zingg will get his first taste of the big bike in a crowded B class, which ends up providing some of the best racing of the year.

Caden Dudney, who had a breakout year in the B class, recently thanked Kawasaki Team Green after their three years of working together. The Texas native has moved up to the A class and will debut his new Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing YZ250F this week in Florida. While Dudney recently left Team Green Kawasaki, former Husqvarna rider Vincent Wey has joined the Kawasaki squad. The second-generation rider is set for his debut on Kawasaki in the B class.

Second-generation racer Leum Oehlhof (Yamaha) has become a race winner/podium threat at the top level. Coming off of two broken ankles that sidelined him for a few months last fall, Oehlhof did not miss a beat in 2024 and even improved his skillset and results. Klark Robbins had a breakout year in 2023 and earned a ride with GasGas. Robbins and Pennsylvania’s Luke Fauser (KTM) are two riders to keep an eye out for under their respective programs. Despite some bad starts in 2024, Landon Gibson (Husqvarna) is putting in strong results. The #23 Husqvarna always fights to the end and used that grittiness to make some last-lap passes at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch this year. Watch him battle with the fast Gordon brothers, Landen and Reven, as well as Cole Forbes (KTM), Ryder Malinoski (Yamaha), and more. A handful of the top B riders from Loretta Lynn’s have transitioned to the A class, which will be fun to watch.

Other riders to keep an eye on will be A rider Enzo Temmerman (Kawasaki); Vincent Wey (Kawasaki); quiet but fast Russian Alex Fedortsov (Yamaha) who rides for Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha; 2024 College (18-24) Loretta Lynn’s Champion Noah Stevens (KTM) who was competitive in the Pro Sport classes this year as well; 2024 250 B Limited Loretta Lynn’s Champion Grayson Townsend (new onto Honda); and Texas native Jadon Cooper (Husqvarna); Diesel Thomas (Husqvarna); Throw Powell (Yamaha), who moved from a two-stroke YZ250 to a YZ250F full-time now; new Husqvarna recruit Max Shane; Wyatt Bass (Husqvarna); Ely Gross (new to Triumph); Seth Kready (Kawasaki); Wyatt Thurman (KTM); and Chase Lawton (Yamaha).

WMX riders to watch this year include 2024 Women’s Motocross (WMX) Champion Lachlan Turner (Yamaha), van Drunen, Kyleigh Stallings (Kawasaki), Jordan Jarvis (Yamaha), Mayla Herrick (GasGas), and Katie Benson (Yamaha). Jarvis and Turner are expected to mix it up with the boys in some classes as well, which will certainly be entertaining.