There is no doubt about it, Rick Elzinga continues to improve during his time racing the MX2 World Championship. The Dutch talent is growing and is now starting to believe that he belongs at the front of the MX2 World Championship. In moto one, he was battling with Kay de Wolf for the win but sadly had a mechanical issue which resulted in a DNF but he had the pace.
We caught up with Elzinga to discuss his belief, being a full factory Yamaha rider and more…
GateDrop: A really, really strong weekend for you in terms of the riding. It’s just a real shame about what happened in the first moto with the bike stopping, because if that hadn’t happened, every chance you could have had a podium this weekend. So, from your side, you must be happy with the riding, especially at a track that isn’t exactly a Dutch style track…
Elzinga: Yeah, I’m definitely happy. Happy that I can show my potential also on hard pack tracks. I definitely enjoyed the track more today than on Saturday. Today the track was a bit more techy… a bit more technical, and I liked that. But, yeah, it’s a shame. It’s still a technical spot, but it’s a shame it happened. I was definitely going for the win. Could have been first, could have been second, could have been third. But, yeah, definitely would have been happy with those positions. But the bike expired, and something happened. Just bad luck so I had to switch it up for the second moto, which was not easy. I made it through with the sixth position. So, I’m happy with that as well.
GateDrop: Just before the bike did stop on you in the first moto, I’m assuming you had to slow down for a few laps. How many laps exactly?
Elzinga: Yeah, it was like about four or five laps that I felt it bugging in power. And then it just cut off. So, yeah, I was second. Liam passed me, I was already struggling and then it stopped.
GateDrop: Before that, you were kind of catching de Wolf. That must have felt amazing. I mean, not too many riders can say they’ve caught de Wolf this year. So, you must have been happy with the riding…
Elzinga: Yeah, I was really happy. I was believing in myself that I could win and that made life a lot easier. I was fighting to stay close and to see a possible attack. But, yeah, before that happened, it was already over. So, yeah, that’s a bit bad luck.
GateDrop: It’s interesting you said there you believed you could win. Do you think maybe two or three years ago, maybe that was what was missing? Do you think now you believe you belong at the front?
Elzinga: I think already in the beginning of the season, I was still missing it. But I’m showing myself over and over that I’m able to. So, once I believe it, I will be up there even more, I think. So, I will try to make that switch. I have been working on it this season and I’ve been growing a lot on it. So, we’ll see. It’s going better and better anyway. But, results-wise, I need a bit of luck. We will get there.
GateDrop: What’s it like being a full factory Yamaha rider? Just whenever you were racing with TBS conversions KTM, I mean, you didn’t really have much for the future after that, you were saying you might even quit the sport. That’s not that long ago, really, when you think about it. And now you’re a ful -factory rider, living the dream… But I’m sure you want more…
Elzinga: Yeah, you know, I think when I was in TBS, I had already a good place with them. They were really good and nice, they did also all they could with the means they had. So, I’m really thankful to them. But, yeah, looking back, now I have everything I need, all the assists and guidance that I need. And, of course, as a rider, you always want to win… You always want to have more than you get. But I think it’s also important just to stay happy with what you’re doing and enjoy the life as well, you know. So, I’m just enjoying.
GateDrop: Even though you’ve been a full factory Yamaha rider for a few years now, things still changed this year because Hutten Metaal are now running the MX2 Yamaha team. But, of course, you were with them in the EMX. Is that nice to be back with them? Also, you’re back working with Herjan Brakke, who’s got a very good reputation… He helped you grow in the EMX and now looks to be doing the same, but in MX2 this time…
Elzinga: Yeah, I’m definitely happy. I’m happy I can live at home. Because the team is like 20 minutes from my home.
GateDrop: Before that, where were you living?
Elzinga: Before, I was living in Belgium, close to the team there. It’s about a two-and-a-half-hour drive there. So, it’s pretty far so, I’m happy to be back home. Happy to be working with these guys again. They have the same mindset as me, the same way of thinking. Pretty straightforward, and I like that. You can really see the passion these guys have in the team and I really enjoy it.
GateDrop: What was the track like there today? I mean, do you have anything like that in the Netherlands? I know you do have Lelystad… It gets rutty and stuff, but was it anything like that? What’s your thoughts on the track when it’s dry? It’s not a big track. It’s like 1:40 lap time. Do you think it’s GP standard, or what’s your thoughts?
Elzinga: On Wednesday, we went to Lelystad, it was raining there. I think most of the GP riders were there. Ed did a really good job in prepping it because it was quite close to how it was today. But, yeah, to me, it doesn’t seem like an MXGP track. It’s really small, the jumps are not big. I only touched 4th gear once after the wave section. That’s it. So, it’s mostly 2nd and 3rd gear. Of course, it’s a track for everyone and it changes up a bit of the speed because now we are trying 2nd and 3rd gear instead of 3rd and 4th. So, it’s a bit of a different technique again. It’s interesting, but I definitely like the track how it was a couple of years ago when it was still on the other side. It’s hard for them as well because they have many rules here as well. So, I would say props to them for still having the GP and making the track as well as they can. I would say I can complain, but I think it’s not in the right position to do it because they are doing a good job out there.
GateDrop: Karlis Reisulis, he was on fire this weekend. Do you ride much with him? And what’s he like riding at the test track? Did you see this sort of result coming? Because I have to say I was very impressed with him this weekend…
Elzinga: Yeah, I ride with him quite often. Most of the time when we go out training Herjan will put up some sort of fight together to help each other, let’s say. Yeah, I definitely know he has the speed. It has come out already a couple of times before but he hasn’t been able to hang on to it. But he’s doing a great job and this moto, he resisted the guys from the back all moto and he had some speed. I’m happy for him, he’s doing a good job.
GateDrop: Next year is going to be your last year in MX2 World Championship. Is it looking likely you’re going to be blue again?
Elzinga: We’ll see. We’ll see.
GateDrop: Okay, I guess you want to stay here then?
Elzinga: I would like to stay, yeah. We’ll see if I can stay. I like my place here.
