Experienced Dutch MXGP rider, Glenn Coldenhoff, might be 34 years old now after celebrating his birthday in February, but you wouldn’t know it based on his performances out on track. The Factory Fantic rider looks revitalized in 2025 and is off to the best start of his career – proving that age is just a number when you’re riding this well.
After an impressive off-season, it’s clear the Fantic team have made significant progress, and Coldenhoff is thriving on the improved package. With two podiums to his name after the first four rounds, including a near-victory in the demanding sand of Riola, the Dutchman has re-established himself as a serious contender in MXGP.
“It means a lot,” Coldenhoff said in the press conference after another strong showing. “I mean, two podiums out of four GPs is by far my best start of the season, and third in the championship also now, so it’s looking really good. I felt good here this weekend, yesterday I struggled a little bit, but we made a very small change on the suspension, and was working very, very good today. First moto, we had a really, really good pace, I was aggressive for a few laps, and managed to make quite a lot of passes.”
Coldenhoff continued: “And then at one point, I got second, and Bonacorsi was behind me, my teammate, he rode very, very good. He was pushing me, and he was definitely a bit faster, but he wasn’t able to overtake. But it was good. Second moto, a little bit less, I would say. In the beginning, I wasn’t that fast, and you know, also, like, before France, I got really sick. The week after France, I did nothing. I went on antibiotics and all that stuff, and I’m just happy to be here, you know. It’s been tough weeks, and it’s definitely not the preparation I would have liked to have, but anyway, I’ll take second overall here, and thanks to the team again, they did an amazing job, and we’re working great together, so I’m very happy also for the team.”
As the 2025 season unfolds, Coldenhoff appears not just comfortable, but confident and motivated – a reflection of the positive environment around him at Fantic.
“You know, like Tim (Gajser) always says, a happy rider is a fast rider, and I’m very happy at the moment. Like, the bike is doing what I want it to do, and I think you can also see that on Bona. He’s doing very well also, you know, only second year in the class, and obviously, Brian, he got sick last week as well, so he wasn’t the fittest today, but I’m quite sure, you know, we are practicing a lot together, and that’s working really good also with our team trainer, Kevin Strijbos. A lot of experience on board, so it’s working great.”
2025 might be the final year of Coldenhoff’s current contract, but if he keeps performing at this level, there’s no doubt many fans – and possibly teams – would love to see him extend his career into 2026. For now, the Dutchman is focused on the present, and with the way he’s riding, there’s a chance we’ll see him standing on the top step before the season is done.
