Interview: Glenn Coldenhoff talks Matterley Basin MXoN and a podium for the Dutch

Image: Nigel McKinstry | Interview: Andy McKinstry

Heading into the final moto at the MXoN, Netherlands were at the top of the leader board as things were very tight at the top. Unfortunately, Glenn Coldenhoff went down on the first lap as he couldn’t avoid riders in front of him which made it tough for the Dutch to win but they still ended up on the podium which was still a good days work.

We caught up with Coldenhoff to discuss the event and more…

GateDrop: Glenn, overall, it was a solid day for the Netherlands. Going into the last moto, it looked like you could maybe do it but Australia were just a little bit too strong there in that final…

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Coldenhoff: Yeah, I struggled a lot in moto one. We made a small change on the bike and it didn’t work out so well and then yeah with two laps to go I crashed which was a shame. Going into moto three, I knew I had to put a solid performance and my starts were great, like really good. I think I was around tenth to fifteenth or something but then yeah I think four guys crashed in front of me at one part of the track and I couldn’t avoid. I went down and then you know it’s going to be very difficult especially the last moto with two 450cc classes. You know it is really stacked out there but I kept pushing and I felt great. In that moto, I definitely felt a lot better so happy and proud of team Netherlands to make the podium.

Of course I think if we look to us individually everybody expected a bit more especially me but yeah circumstances were difficult, the track was really sketchy and still happy to make the podium. We were the first European team after Australia and USA so we were a little bit lucky so sometimes you need a little bit of luck. Really happy to finish off the season on a high note with Team Netherlands being on the box.

GateDrop: Just individually how would you say you got on? I wouldn’t say it was a great day for Glenn Coldenhoff but I wouldn’t say it was a bad day either, pretty solid?

Coldenhoff: Yeah, the first Moto I was really disappointed with it, my feeling wasn’t good at all and luckily I could be able to ride how I can ride in that second moto. I think the lap times were not that bad and I could push again and I felt strong. You know I came from quite far and still a decent position so from that second moto I definitely felt better.

Image: Nigel McKinstry

GateDrop: The track yesterday was full of ruts, you couldn’t really move around, today it was more open so you could move around and with the rain it was a bit more slippery would you say?

Coldenhoff: Yeah, the visibility was really difficult as well. You know I decided to go with tear offs but with five minutes to go I finished all my tear rolls and you know it was really difficult. You know you have quite a few jumps where you come high in the air and on landing and straight away ruts so deep and that made it really difficult. But yeah in the end it was a great day.

GateDrop: Just on the level out there sometimes at the Nations there’s not many riders left because everyone’s injured, this year the complete opposite it looked unbelievably stacked out there, did it feel like that riding around?

Coldenhoff: Yeah, sure. You know there were a lot of good guys and you can definitely see that on the results as well and I think it was a nice event. I think nice for the fans, nice for everyone, nice for the riders. You know it’s always good to compete with all the best riders out there and it was sick.

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Image: Nigel McKinstry

GateDrop: Jeffrey probably didn’t ride his best today but Kay de Wolf, what’s your thoughts on him? He was unbelievable out there on the 250cc…

Coldenhoff: I think Jeffrey did great as well but yeah he’s the guy who is able to win, you know. I don’t say he did bad because he rode amazing and Kay also, he was really really fast. I didn’t see him riding in the second moto but apparently it was really good. He just crashed three times I guess so a bit too much on the ground I think from all of us. So it was a shame but in the end you know still happy to get a podium and not finish in fourth or fifth or whatever.

GateDrop: 20 GP’s a year with a two day format and you have to be there to do start practice now on Friday… how hard is that on the body as well as all the preseason races and the Nations, are you ready for a break now?

Coldenhoff: Yeah, I’m definitely ready. I mean start practice isn’t that heavy for Friday and it’s good that we can do that because some tracks are on altitude and you know you can still see a little bit with setup and stuff so I think that is good. 20 GP races is a lot but I think the traveling makes it even harder. You know for example Turkey, it’s really hard to come at that track. We fly and then still three and a half hours drive and a little bit similar last weekend in Cozar. You know, it’s the traveling that makes it hard but in the end you know it’s a World Championship, 20 races, I like to ride a lot of races.

Image: Nigel McKinstry

GateDrop: So, what’s the next few weeks like for you, have you got a holiday plan I’m sure you’re looking forward to maybe forgetting about motocross and being a dad and enjoy some downtime for the next few weeks?

Coldenhoff: On Thursday and Friday I have a test planned in Italy with Fantic so we keep them going. I think I will have a week, or three or four weeks off a little bit. You know, no holidays planned yet still plenty of things to do also at home. During the year you can’t do anything it’s so busy out there so we’ll see we’ll definitely take some holiday to try and catch some sun somewhere and then get ready for next year again.

GateDrop: Book a holiday man, thank you for the interview, see you next year and all the best.