Davy Pootjes was once one of the brightest young talents in the Grand Prix paddock, a Red Bull KTM factory rider with an EMX125 title seemingly at his fingertips and a future that promised so much. But as is often the case in motocross, the path to the top isn’t always straightforward. A string of injuries hampered Pootjes’ progress just as his career was gathering momentum, and after years of battling setbacks, he made the tough decision to step away from racing full-time for the time being.
Fast forward to today and Pootjes is still heavily involved in the sport—this time as a trainer. Now armed with coaching qualifications and first-hand experience of both the highs and the lows of a professional racing career, the Dutchman is passing on his knowledge to the next generation. From rising Dutch prospect Scott Smulders to Britain’s Harry Dale and South Africa’s Trey Cox, Pootjes has quickly become a familiar face back in the GP paddock—albeit in a different role.
We caught up with Davy to reflect on his career, that near-miss 2014 EMX125 title, his emotional GP podium in Mantova, and his new chapter as a coach working with some of the most exciting young talents from across Europe and beyond. The Dutchman hasn’t ruled out a return to racing in the future himself!
GateDrop: Davy, you are now a coach/trainer… How did you end up in this role after your racing career?
Pootjes: Actually, I decided to get my training papers in Holland at the KNMV. I always said, let’s get the papers and then we will see in the future if I can still stay in the sport and help others. When I got the papers, I hadn’t stopped racing yet. But in 2024, I had a second surgery on my back after my herniated disc. I decided to start giving some training and it started from there. It was clear I needed to take a break from racing to let my body heal but we’ll see what the future holds. I haven’t yet ruled out making a return to racing in the future.
GateDrop: I just want to touch on your racing career, such a big talent, you had a factory KTM contract on an 85cc… I remember you and Hsu battling for the EMX125 title in 2014 – hard to believe that is 11 years ago. You should have won it, what do you remember from that year?
Pootjes: I remember winning the first three rounds of the EMX125 series. Then in France, I was second overall I think and then we had the fifth round. I already almost had the EMX125 title. But then I just had a little crash in a turn and then I popped out my shoulder. Then actually my whole lead, all the points were gone because Hsu won that race, both moto’s. I was allowed from the doctor to try again a few weeks later, but then my shoulder popped out again. So sadly, that season, I didn’t win the title.
I also missed the Junior World Championship and I was one of the favourites because I won almost every race I did that year. That’s a bit sad how that ended because that year actually went so good. I won almost every race, so it was sad to end the season with a shoulder injury. But luckily, I still renewed the factory contract back then for the future. That was actually my first injury in my career because my whole youth career before that, I actually never had any crazy injuries. I broke my arm once but that was it. But from that time on, then it started with all the injuries.
GateDrop: Where did it all go wrong after 2014 – you and Hsu were so good but you both never fulfilled your potential and you both were so so good…
Pootjes: It’s actually crazy to think. Back then, it was me and Brian. I had the Red Bull KTM factory team, and he was on the Suzuki factory team. We were actually the only ones in the EMX125 class that were in the factory team. For sure, back then, we were both special, I would say. It’s sad that both of us actually never really achieved what we maybe could achieve, you know? But that’s just how it goes. I don’t know really what happened with him, like what went wrong in his career, but I think not so much with the injuries, but still, he had also some bad luck, I guess. With myself it was just injury after injury, that kind of destroyed my career.
GateDrop: How good did it feel to get on the podium in Mantova 2019? 4-4 was enough for your first and what ended up being your only GP podium…
Pootjes: Before that race I had some top three in races but it wasn’t enough for the overall. But yeah, that was actually a good race, it was quite muddy. In the second moto, I was actually second with three laps to go, but my bike started to break. It got a lot of water so then I also crashed. So that then meant I went 4-4. I didn’t know if I was on the podium, but that was enough for third overall. I’m actually really happy with the podium, because that’s something that still not so many guys achieve to have a GP overall podium. So, for sure, that was a nice thing in my career.
GateDrop: So, last year you worked with Bradley Mesters in the GP paddock as he contested the EMX250 series. How was it to work with him and be back in the paddock again…
Pootjes: Last year, other than some youth riders, Bradley was the first professional rider that I trained. It was really nice, and I really liked it. He is for sure a very big talent. His technique and riding style is actually, I would say, quite similar to Jett Lawrence and he’s a big talent. Last year, when I started working, I got a call asking me to work with him. He had a bad time before that, he had a shoulder injury, and he was coming back.
He didn’t feel so good so then they called me to help him. Since then, it went better and better. He achieved his best results so far in his career, so I was happy to achieve that with him last year. I think I helped him back then to go in a good direction.
GateDrop: This year you’re working with plenty of riders again, let’s start with Scott Smulders on the Triumph, I remember on an 85cc he was very good and at times battled with de Wolf at times – what do you think he can achieve this year?
Pootjes: Scott has always been a big talent and that is true. We also still talk a lot about it, but his body was always a bit behind, you know. He was always a bit skinny, very light. So when he was ready for it, his body was just not.
Now we started working also a bit on the physical side. The good thing is that his body is now the way it should be. This is how it should have been when he was 18, two years ago. Now it’s actually going really good. His speed and the way he ride is getting better and better. The goal this year in the ADAC is to get some podiums. In the GP’s, I think if he rides top 15 then he is doing a good job. Like this, he can grow for the next few years.
GateDrop: You’ve started to work with young British talent, Harry Dale. This kid seems super talented. What has it been like working with him and his family so far?
Pootjes: So far, it’s actually really easy. It’s really nice to work with them.
GateDrop: What sort of things have you been working on with Dale so far – speed and technique?
Pootjes: He is only 11 years old but it’s funny, when we train a bit on technique, then I explain some things… He’s just like, yeah we’re going to do it and then the lap, he’s going to try it. He just does it. He doesn’t have to think or try it before he gets it right, he just can do it. That’s what makes it special.
GateDrop: He is still very young, what do you think he can achieve in the future? His family have moved away from the UK so that is important I think…
Pootjes: Of course, you never know what is going to happen in the future. But if he keeps going like this, then we all know he is able to become a very good GP rider in the future. But there’s still a long way to go. In my opinion, the family is really smart. They actually know what they need to do.
There are a lot of people pulling on Harry, you know. Everyone wants something from Harry. But the parents are really smart with it, and they play it really good. They just need to keep going like this and don’t put too much pressure on Harry, because now he’s so free and he feels so good. Then you see that he can do everything on the bike, so they also know that. I think this way; everything is going to be good.
GateDrop: Trey Cox, I believe you are working with him as well. What exactly is his deal for this year? I think it’s selected rounds of the EMX125 but I guess he still has to go back and race in South Africa as well… Hopefully in the future, he can maybe be full time in Europe. Is that the goal?
Pootjes: With Trey, I am very good friends with his brother (Bradley). He is the same age as me and he also raced EMX in the past. Last year we started training a bit with Trey and his goal is if he can get on a team to maybe stay here (in Europe) in the future.
He also has the Red Bull KTM team in South Africa, so he needs to do all the South African races. That’s a bit difficult with traveling and stuff like that but for most the weekends that he’s free, he is going to try and race here at the EMX and the ADAC series. From that, he learns a lot because in South Africa, with all respect, the level in Europe is just a bit higher and also the tracks are a bit different, so he is learning a lot. Every single time he’s here, he’s learning a lot. He’s getting used to the tracks and stuff like that so for him, if he wants to grow, it’s very important that he is here as much as he can.
GateDrop: You are also working with Danee Gelissen, what’s it like to work with her – the level of WMX is high, right?
Pootjes: The level is high and actually her level for a girl is really high. She’s riding around fifth place at the GP’s. We started training last year in November. We did a few test days and they were happy, I was happy so we made the deal for the whole season.
So far, it’s going really good. Of course, sometimes working with a girl is a bit different than with a guy. But she is really motivated and strong and she really wants to work for it. For me, that is important, when I see that, then I’m happy and then I want to give 100% for the rider I train. It’s been nice and like I said she’s also a very good rider in GP’s. For me, it’s also nice to work with someone like that.
GateDrop: Being in the GP paddock as a coach/trainer and not a rider what is that like? I think the format is great with big emphasis on the EMX championships, but things can be improved to help the teams I think…
Pootjes: Yeah, exactly. Of course, it’s different when you are a coach. When I was a rider, you just do your own thing but now as a trainer, you have several riders that you work for. So, you’re way more busy because you need to check this and that. You need to do way more things around it, you know but it’s nice. I really like it, and I really like to be at the GP’s. That’s the place where I feel the most at home because that’s also the level that I always raced at myself. In Holland, at the moment, there are a few good youth riders, but it’s not so big So it’s also nice to train as many youth in Holland as possible. So hopefully in the future, we will get some more Dutch riders racing the EMX125 and EMX250 championships.
