Interview: Roan Van de Moosdijk on his EMX250 podium at round one

You can certainly lose a championship at the first round but you can’t win it and starting the season with a podium for Roan Van de Moosdijk is a good start to the season.

The young Dutch talent is the favourite for the championship heading into the season and has a lot of pressure as a result but getting on the box at Matterley Basin was a good result.

We spoke to the F&H Kawasaki rider to get his thoughts on his weekend.

Gatedrop: Roan, we’ve just had the first round of the EMX250 series. As I’m sure you’re aware you are one of the favourites for the title. You can lose the championship at round one but you can’t win it so are you happy with your third overall?

Roan Van de Moosdijk: Yes, overall I am happy. Of course it could have went worse but my starts were not good (laughs). At this track, it’s not easy to pass. Bad starts and a lot of arm pump – I put a lot of pressure on myself because everybody thinks I am the champion. I put a lot of pressure on myself but at the end, third overall isn’t so bad for the start of the season.

Gatedrop: I thought you started the first moto quite well and you had two riders just in front of you. In the last ten minutes you dropped of the two riders in front of you. Was that just down to the arm pump or was it something else?

Roan Van de Moosdijk: Yeah, it was arm pump and I was riding too tight. I think that’s it really, I looked behind me instead of looking forward, that’s it.

Gatedrop: Matterley Basin isn’t a good track for you, the last two years you ended up in ambulance I believe. So, to get on the box at a bad track is another positive for you!

Roan Van de Moosdijk: That’s right. That also was in my head and in my body, you know. I’m happy to walk away with third. I will focus on Italy for the second round now

Gatedrop: You’ve signed with the F&H Kawasaki team this year, just how’s everything going with the team so far?

Roan Van de Moosdijk: Perfect. It feels like a family and everybody is really nice. It makes it easier for me so I am really happy to have signed with this team.

Gatedrop: You spent a few years on the Yamaha, just how does the Kawasaki compare?

Roan Van de Moosdijk: The Kawasaki feels better for me. The bike is more tight and for me, better to handle and that’s what I really like.

Gatedrop: I’d have liked to have seen you in MX2 this year but you ended up staying EMX250 for another season. Just why was that?

Roan Van de Moosdijk: We talked a lot with Marc de Reuver and with the big boss. We decided it was better to gain some more experience. It means next year I will be more ready than this year for MX2.

Gatedrop: How’s everything going working with Marc de Reuver?

Roan Van de Moosdijk: Good, really good. Every time I go training I still learn from him. He sees so many things on the bike like my position, the track, my lines, everything. It’s really good to work with him.

Interview: Andy McKinstry

Pic: Nigel McKinstry