Rick Elzinga’s MXGP rookie season has been anything but straightforward. After another injury-disrupted winter, the talented Dutch rider struggled to find comfort and confidence on his Beta, ultimately leading to a mutual decision to part ways with his team. Ahead of the German Grand Prix, Elzinga was handed an opportunity with Van Venrooy KTM, making the switch to orange machinery with very little preparation time before lining up on the MXGP gate.
Despite only spending a handful of days on the KTM 450 SX-F, Elzinga showed encouraging signs at Teutschenthal, scoring his first Grand Prix points of the season and leaving Germany with renewed optimism. We caught up with Elzinga as he discusses the reasons behind his team switch, his first impressions of the KTM, adapting to life in the MXGP class, the frustrations of repeated injuries, and why he believes his best performances are still to come with Van Venrooy KTM.
GateDrop: Rick, you had a new ride at the weekend. What led to this decision to switch teams?
Elzinga: You know, after the injuries I’ve had in the off-season, coming back wasn’t that easy. But I think me and the team handled that pretty well but since then I have just been struggling myself and just couldn’t really get used to the bike, let’s say. I was just feeling like there was no connection. I tried to ride, but it just didn’t come out of me, which was really frustrating. At some point, I wasn’t happy and the team wasn’t happy, so the mutual decision came along.
GateDrop: How many times did you ride the KTM before racing in Germany?
Elzinga: Only a couple days – less than you might think. But somehow with this bike, I just got on it and it felt more natural, more right for me. It was just feeling quite good. The team wanted me to ride in Germany, and I said if I feel good, I would. I felt good, so I did.
GateDrop: It’s been a while for you since racing a KTM – what was your first impressions of the KTM 450cc when you first got on the bike?
Elzinga: It’s been a while, the last time was back in 2021 when I finished third in the EMX250 championship. The first impressions of the bike were really good. I got on the bike of Mattia (Guadagnini), so I just rode the bike exactly as Mattia had it and straight away it was pretty good.
It felt a lot different than what I’m used to on the 450cc, because I rode also the Yamaha 450cc. There is a big change in how the bike handles, especially on the bottom. Since KTM has a lot of torque and not that raw power that the Yamaha has. It takes time to get used to it but other than that, it’s really good.
GateDrop: You haven’t had much time on the bike, so I guess you are making plenty of changes to the bike to get it to your liking, did you make many changes between free practice and race two in Germany – if yes, what kind of changes?
Elzinga: Honestly, not that many changes, just small personal changes like a different seat, different handlebar. We haven’t figured it out yet, because I want to try another handlebar again later. For the suspension, it’s pretty much the same. With the engine, it’s mostly a package thing, so there’s not too much to change and it’s also good, so there’s no need to change it.
GateDrop: Despite limited bike time on the KTM, you did score your first GP points in Germany – so that’s positive, right?
Elzinga: I am really positive about Germany. If I knew before the weekend that I could finish fifteenth and sixteenth in the moto’s, I would have signed for that. I am really glad I ended up racing in Germany even though I feel like it was the first time racing for a long time.
It was a different intensity, let’s say. I was feeling a bit rusty. Other than that, it was just happy vibes all weekend. Every session I got on the bike, it was getting better and better.
GateDrop: What was the vibe like with the team in Germany with the likes of Ruud, Scott and Klaas – did they help make you comfortable within the team and I guess no pressure as you had very little bike time…
Elzinga: The vibes were good; I like the team a lot and the way they work. They have the same kind of mentality because I live not too far away from the team. I feel like I have kind of the same mentality as them.
If you don’t ride good, they will tell you, and if you ride good, they will tell you as well. It’s just straight to the point which I like. They just do anything to help you as long as you try your best as well, which is natural so it’s great.
GateDrop: Over winter you got injured again, this is becoming quite a habit for you – it must be really frustrating at this point?
Elzinga: Somehow and I don’t know why, but in the winter, I get hurt or just coming back, which is really frustrating, yes. During winter is the time where you work on your skills, and every time I can’t. It means that during the year I’m just busy getting back to fitness, while I cannot really progress, is my feeling.
It is frustrating, but I mean, the raw talent, I feel like, is there. The work ethic is there. It’s just that missing time on the bike gets worse, I think that’s the best way to say it. If I wouldn’t have gotten hurt all those times, I would have been a different rider, in my opinion. But it is what it is, I can only adapt.
GateDrop: MXGP is no joke but how have you found the class in the few GP’s you have raced?
Elzinga: MXGP is no joke. I knew coming from EMX250 to the MX2 World Championship was already not a joke, but now going from MX2 to MXGP, is another step. If you think about it, in MX2 now there’s only Simon (Längenfelder) that has a world title. In MXGP there’s eight riders that has a World Championship title so it’s crazy.
It’s a lot different the way they race. Obviously, I haven’t been at the front yet, but I think when I get to the front I have to adjust again but I’m looking forward to that.
GateDrop: In terms of your new deal with Van Venrooy KTM, is it for the rest of the season including the fly away rounds?
Elzinga: The deal with Van Venrooy KTM should also be for the flyaway rounds. It is a bit determined on how the results are going to be. But I think if I see myself correctly with this bike and I can get into the top ten, which I believe I can with this bike, then we will do all of the season. It’s what I expect from myself.
