Fresh from making the step up to the MXGP class, Kay de Wolf is embracing the challenge of adapting to 450cc machinery as he continues to improve after his return from injury. The former MX2 World Champion has already shown flashes of his potential against the elite of MXGP, and at the Dutch Masters round in Heerde, he went bar-to-bar with none other than Jeffrey Herlings in front of a passionate home crowd.
Still early in his transition to the MXGP class, De Wolf is treating every outing as a learning opportunity, balancing raw speed with valuable experience. We caught up with De Wolf as he reflects on the demanding conditions at Heerde, what he’s learning from racing Herlings, and the steady progress he’s making as he adapts to the brutal 450cc class while managing his recovery.
GateDrop: Kay, I mean, first of all, before I forget, a shout out to the track. I’m glad I wasn’t riding around there, that looks so gnarly and rough, but they’re your kind of conditions, so you probably loved it (laughs)…
De Wolf: The track was pretty decent. It was a bit hard, because it’s been really wet, and then it dried a lot the last two days, so it got a bit hard underneath. But no, the track was really good, I really enjoyed it, and also the Dutch fans, man. They were unreal, it was gnarly, there were so many Dutch fans, and I think this is great for the sport, especially here in Holland, to see so many fans, I think that’s what we want, and that’s what we need, so that’s what we’re all working for. That’s why we’re racing these races, so I’m really happy to see so many people, and it was a pleasure to race here.
GateDrop: I’m not sure when the last Dutch Masters you raced was, I don’t think you raced any last year, so is it nice to be back, you know, racing in your home country without the pressure of a GP?
De Wolf: The last Dutch Masters I did was the 2023 season. I got the title, so I had the 85cc title, the 125cc title and then the 250cc title. Now I’m trying to go for the 450cc title, but I mean, it’s not going to be easy, especially with Jeffrey there, so no, it’s going to be fun, but it was 2023, a week before I claimed my first GP win, I got my Dutch Masters title. In 2024 we decided to go for the World Championship, and that plan worked out, then last year I also decided to only go for the GPs, and that’s what we did.
GateDrop: In that first moto, I mean, battling with Jeffrey, he so experienced, he knows where to put a bike so it makes it hard to pass him but it looked fun you know, battling with him, even though you didn’t win? I’m sure you learned a lot…
De Wolf: I definitely learned a lot, I pushed good with Jeffrey and we had a decent moto. It was really fun, we were really pushing it, we put a big gap on Romain, so that was an interesting moto. Of course I learned a lot, that’s also been the last few weeks, I’ve been learning every single time I go out on track, and I really feel that as I get more into this class, I will get more experience in the class, and that’s really what you need. It’s a brutal class, these 450cc guys, even P15 can be fast, so it’s a tough class, but I’m really excited I have made a step, and it’s really fun.
GateDrop: In the second moto, you crashed just in front of me, I missed it though, but I’ve seen everyone throwing their arms up, I didn’t even know it was you at first, but it seemed to be quite a big one, but I mean, you came through the pack really fast…
De Wolf: Yeah, I came from probably almost that last to P4, I wanted to catch Alby (Forato) in the last few laps, but I just missed out, he clicked up another gear. The crash was alright, I just missed my brake, I jumped up, we normally land with our left foot out, and then I kind of landed on my brake always with my full foot, to like turn it around the bike, and I just missed the brake, so I just went straight, and it was like on top of that hill, which is 4-5 meters I think, so my bike kind of stayed on the top in the bush, and I just went all the way down, but I didn’t go down hard, I just rolled down the hill. I didn’t hurt myself at all, I just rolled down and rolled out of it, but it was a really good moto, I’m really happy with my speed in the end. I don’t know how much Jeffrey backed off, he probably backed off because he was just managing the gap, but I was looking every lap how to see how the gap was. I had a decent pace this moto, so it’s a bummer I couldn’t find Jeffrey in this moto. I think if we would have found each other, we could have clicked another gear, and put a spectacular moto on. We still have three more rounds so it’s going to be a fun one, but all in all, I’m really happy with my riding. I think we’re going to go with a good spot into Sardinia, and that’s the most important.
GateDrop: I mean it’s only your third 450cc race this year after injury, you seem to be getting better and better every week, are you happy with your progress you’ve made since returning in Spain?
De Wolf: Definitely, but it’s one big learning curve, the first race I remember I did in Sommières, many times I turned in first gear, because you’re only riding second and third, but I’m so used to riding the 250cc, and shifting down twice into a turn, so it was still in my system. Sometimes I would turn in first and then I had this injury, and went straight back to race, and only done two days on the bike before Spain. I crashed in Sommières, I tried before Argentina but that was just three laps, and then I was done, I felt like I couldn’t, it was impossible after surgery, seven days later I tried to ride the normal, it was just not possible. The thumb wasn’t healed, and then I went back to recovery, and then I started practicing only twice before Spain. Spain was a tough one, I really went deep with that one, but I learned a lot there, and I’m happy I still done it, because otherwise if I would have not raced Spain, I would have only came back in Sardinia, so that would have been this Dutch Masters as a pre-season race, and then come back in Sardinia. I’m happy I’ve done it, and I learned a lot.
GateDrop: Just on your pre-season before France, I mean how was it all going, I know last year you rode a 450 quite a lot, but obviously the full focus was trying to win that MX2 title, was it nice just to say goodbye to the 250cc, and fully focus on the 450cc, and adapt to that?
De Wolf: Yeah definitely, I made this decision really late, I only decided on Sunday morning at the Motocross des Nations. On Sunday morning I kind of woke up, and I felt like I wanted to make a step up to the 450cc, I didn’t want to stay another year on the 250cc, so I moved up to the 450cc. I was really happy I made the decision, I feel really good on this bike, I’m really happy with my riding, and I was doing really really well before I had my injury. It’s a bummer this injury came, and I’m still struggling with it, I’m still not holding on to my bars how I should, I can’t get my thumb around yet, so I’m still riding with a straight thumb, so I’m basically holding on with four fingers, and that’s it. I’m not fully back, but I don’t think it bothers me that much, but I still just need some race fitness I would say, I feel especially in Spain the last five minutes, it was tough.
GateDrop: With your thumb, is that having an impact on how many times you can ride during the week, or not so much?
De Wolf: No, we’re at a point where I found a good balance how to hold my thumb without being in too much pain, and also not having too much of a drop let’s say after a practice day. We’ve done decent riding, we rode three times this week, we rode today, I’m going to do some more riding tomorrow before Sardinia.
GateDrop: What’s it been like having Ruben in your corner, obviously he worked with Ben Townley, he worked with Jeffrey, but he took Jeffrey from MX2 to MXGP, so he knows what it’s like from athlete’s point of view, what’s it been like having him in your corner?
De Wolf: It’s been great, I think it’s one of the best things happened to me, and then also still having now Ben a little bit in the far shadow. It’s pretty cool him coming over with the kids, living in Lommel. We’re hanging out a lot, we’re spending a lot of time together, so no it’s good having also Ben around and the kids. It’s fun to see those boys also learning, they’re doing really good, they have a super nice style, and I think those boys can do great in the future as well.
GateDrop: Last question, it is contract year, the longer I hear where you haven’t signed anything, the more nervous I get that you might go to America, have you made a decision, are we likely to see you in GPs again next year, or is it still a wait and see?
De Wolf: I have no clue at the moment. I’m still open for everything, and I’m just waiting. My contract will be up on the end of the season, so I mean I’m up for anything, and I’m really excited to see what the future can bring, but at the moment I’m just focusing on my season, and showing my process and progress every single race.
