Glenn Coldenhoff has kicked off the 2025 MXGP season in sensational form, racking up podiums and showing incredible consistency across all kinds of conditions. We caught up with the Dutchman to discuss his impressive start to the year, the progress at Fantic, working with Kevin Strijbos, and what the future might hold as he continues to defy expectations at 34 years old.
GateDrop: The best start of an MXGP World Championship ever and it keeps going the same way. Podiums, podiums, podiums. You must be really delighted with the start of this season. Did you expect it to be so good?
Coldenhoff: To be honest, you know, I didn’t expect it. I mean, I was feeling good, but it always needs to happen. You know, I had previous years like I felt good during the winter and then it won’t happen in the races. But it seems like this year, you know, it’s clicking with the team, with the bike, just with everything. Like you say, three podiums out of five GPs. It’s, yeah, by far my best season start ever.
Do you think this is the best Glenn Coldenhoff ever or maybe just a couple of percent off your very best?
Coldenhoff: Yeah, I’ve had some great years in the past as well, but I think I would say that now I’m definitely more consistent than in any other year. Consistent, I mean, not consistent top ten, but consistent close to top five. Also today, fifth and third in the motos, you know, it’s, yeah, just an amazing feeling.
GateDrop: That second moto, I think there were four or five of you battling for second. It looked very intense. It looked quite enjoyable, actually. Did you enjoy it?
Coldenhoff: I was definitely enjoying it out there. I mean, Lucas, he made a small mistake and he crashed. They gave me in pit lane the sign that I needed to pass Fernandez for the podium. I felt like in a few spots I was definitely a bit faster and physical. I still felt really, really strong. So I decided to go for it and a little, little sketchy move in the end, you know, on the big step up going up the hill. We came very, very close, but luckily nothing happened and managed to manage the pass and which was good enough for third overall today.
GateDrop: The conditions, it doesn’t seem to matter the track at the minute. You seem to be a podium contender everywhere, so that must give you a lot of confidence…
Coldenhoff: Yeah, sure. Like I said, you know, first podium was in the mud, second one in the sand, but today here in Arco was definitely none of those. So, but I have to admit, like, I didn’t feel great all weekend and, yeah, managed to turn it around in the second moto. I feel like that holeshot definitely helps quite a bit on getting a better feeling straight away from the beginning. If you look in the first moto, I think I was 48 seconds behind and in the second moto I was only 8 seconds behind Tim. So I think that says a lot and the pace was good. We were riding really, really fast and I fought as hard as I could and managed to make it to the podium again.
GateDrop: Just on Fantic, they’ve seemed to have done an amazing job. The bike seems a lot better than last year. What kind of changes did you make over the winter and from the start of the season, have you made that many changes or have you been happy since round one?
Coldenhoff: Â I think, you know, based on comments also from last year, they have been working really, really hard and improving. We start working with some good data. We have a few very good guys inside the team, some guys in Bergeyik (in the Netherlands) and also the factory in Fantic. And it seems like, you know, like already last year, halfway season, we started to work really as one team. I think you can see this year on myself that it’s working great. Even now, I still give comments to the team to improve the bike even more and they are listening and at the same time they understand what I’m looking for. I think that’s very important to have technical people who also understand what you need and they just continue working on that. Hopefully soon we have another update.
GateDrop: Aside from the bike, you also look better… Did you change anything over the winter or not so much?
Coldenhoff: I think training-wise a bit similar. I’m just riding not so often anymore. Like last winter, I think was the year that I didn’t ride as much as I did in any other year.
GateDrop: Coming into this season?
Coldenhoff: Coming into the season, yeah, because also I got very sick. So I didn’t have so much time on the bike, but I feel like, you know, when I’m happy with my setup, happy with the bike, I don’t think I need that much riding. I prefer to do some physical training and push really hard there. That keeps me hungry also for the races when it counts. I think that’s a small change we did and it seems like it’s working.
GateDrop: Thoughts on the track both days? Yesterday was probably a little bit more hard pack after the rain overnight, but either way, it’s one of those tracks you need very good throttle control and to be good technically…
Coldenhoff: Yesterday I was doubting a bit my tyre choice. I was running the scoop tyre from first practice and I kept it actually all weekend. But yesterday was definitely a bit more difficult with the scoop because there was not so much dirt left and also a lot of classes. So, that takes away the dirt quite quickly. And luckily we had some rain. I think that was definitely a bit better for the track and it turned out to be a great race track.
GateDrop: You’re working with Kevin Strijbos for the second year I believe now. What’s it like working with him? Obviously you used to race with him as well…
Coldenhoff: Yeah, I used to race with him. But yeah, we became really, really good friends back in 2014 when we were both in the Suzuki team. You know, we were similar than what we did back then. Â I can go really well with him. Like I said, we are good friends. Also training wise, we discuss what we both think is best for me and best for the team as well. Most of the trainings we do together with Andrea and also with Brian. We’re having a lot of fun out there so I think that’s one important thing also.
GateDrop: You’re 34 I believe now, in a contract year. If you have to decide today if we’ll see you back next year. Surely you can’t retire riding this way…
Coldenhoff: I’m 34, but I feel like I still have a few years in me. As long as I can keep taking some podiums and hopefully this year some wins will come as well. And yeah, we’ll definitely keep on going.
