The experienced Dutchman continues to show impressive consistency, collecting his fifth podium of the season despite a disappointing weekend in Finland where he had the pace to be on the box. Sitting third in the championship, Glenn Coldenhoff is feeling strong as he eyes Lommel – one of his favourite tracks – and is still chasing a Grand Prix victory before the year is out. We caught up with “The Hoff” to discuss his podium return, his speed compared to the title contenders and what the future could hold as he weighs up options in both MXGP and America.
GateDrop: Glenn, back on the podium, it must feel good, you were kind of robbed there in Finland because you definitely had the speed for the podium there, so it must be nice to bounce back and get on the podium here…
Coldenhoff: Definitely, definitely. I didn’t feel that great yesterday but the first moto I really had to work for it because my start wasn’t that great and I pushed all the way through and the last few laps I started to get a good rhythm and still managed to get a fourth which was good. The second moto I pulled a holeshot and I think my fifth holeshot of the season and then also my fifth podium of the season, so it’s good. With the riding, I was making quite some mistakes. I had the pace but I made too many mistakes and then in the end, you know, Lucas also came by and then I decided to keep it on two wheels but I made a mistake on the last lap stalling the bike. Luckily, I went back on again because I could have lost many positions there but happy to get another podium and I’m consistent at this point, so really looking forward to Lommel next week. It’s one of my favourite races and hopefully another podium there.
GateDrop: On that second moto, I mean, Romain and Lucas are running a very high pace and I mean, I feel like for 20 minutes at least you had the pace. You must have been happy with the first 20 anyway I mean, you were holding Lucas off there and looking pretty good as well…
Coldenhoff: Yeah, at one point, I came a bit closer to Romain and I started to pull away a little bit from Lucas but then like I said, I started to make too many mistakes and maybe my line choice wasn’t that great. When Lucas passed, I tried to follow and look for some places to get a bit more comfy but I wasn’t feeling it. It was good but, you know, it wasn’t great… Like I said, I’m happy to be back on the podium and it was in the end a solid, consistent weekend again.
GateDrop: I guess one side of you, you’re always happy to be in the podium but the second part of you probably wants to close the gap a little bit to Lucas and Roman. They’re on a very high pace but I feel like you’re getting closer and closer. Would that be fair?
Coldenhoff: You mean pace-wise?
GateDrop: Yeah, exactly…
Coldenhoff: Definitely on some tracks, it’s maybe a bit less. I felt like I wasn’t far off but, you know, to ride this pace, I did too many mistakes and I wasn’t feeling so comfy. I mean, those guys, they’re fighting for a championship so they also left nothing on the table every single moto when we’re out there. So, I’m just trying to keep up and, like I said at the beginning of the season, you know, the goal is still to win a GP this year and this GP I was a bit off but there are still some nice races coming. I believe I still have it in me to be there and that’s the goal.
GateDrop: The track yesterday, I mean, it was underwater for the 65 race. Today, I thought the track was really good considering. Would you agree? And I actually thought the track prep was pretty good too in between.
Coldenhoff: Yeah, I think it was quite good because it rained really hard yesterday even during our moto and when I watched the first moto from MX2, there were some parts dusty already. So, it’s quickly wet but it’s also quickly dry again and even in our second moto was a bit dusty in some places but I think the track prep was pretty good. Of course, there’s a lot of racing going on during a weekend so it’s always hard to keep a good preparation for the track but I think this weekend was good. There were some options for lines and stuff. Okay, it’s always anyway difficult to pass on any kind of track but I felt like here there were some places where you were able to pass. I think they did a great job.
GateDrop: I would say it’s a rock hard pack. Was it as hard pack as usual? And, I mean, it’s not a very typical Dutch style track that you grew up in apart from you’ve got Lelystad now but it feels like the Dutch guys are getting better in these conditions…
Coldenhoff: I think so. I mean, I was feeling okay. I struggled a bit on Saturday but, you know, I actually always like to come here. It’s one of the very few old school tracks and maybe I’m old school. I’m getting old but I always enjoy riding those natural tracks and I always enjoy coming here.
GateDrop: The big question for next year, MXGP or America or do you not care at the minute?
Coldenhoff: There’s nothing sure at this point. I’m still a free agent and we’ll see what happens. If a nice opportunity will come, I will definitely take it. Where that will be, I have no idea. We’ll see.
GateDrop: There has been some rumours you have had an offer on the table from America. I mean, is that true? Would you like to go or would you prefer to stay in GP’s or does it just depend the best deal you get?
Coldenhoff: You know, at my age, I know exactly know what I need – to have still have fun and to compete at the highest level, I know exactly what is needed for that and I’m just going to check which opportunities will come and where I have the best feeling with and we’ll see where we end up. You know, I’ve been talking to teams in the US, I’ve been talking here with some teams (in MXGP). I’m showing good things so that is definitely positive for that but it can also be that this is my last season, you never know. I feel like I’m still fit enough to at least do another season, especially if you look at this year. It might be my best year even in my career so we’ll see where it ends up.
GateDrop: Obviously, the Dutch des Nations team hasn’t picked yet but I mean you’re probably going to be in there, let’s be honest. I feel like that would be good for you to race a Fantic in America? It would be pretty good for Fantic as well…
Coldenhoff: I think so. We have no news yet about the Des Nations but as I’m third in the championship, having five podiums this year, you would say that I’m going to be picked but we’ll wait and see. I’m definitely motivated to go there. I felt like the past two years I was in the US, I didn’t perform like I should perform and I have a really good feeling this year so I hope I can end this season strong and have a really nice weekend in the U.S.
