MxLarge Story
Glenn Coldenhoff interview - The Other Dutch MX2 Talent
Interview Tuesday 10th May 2011 By Harry Van Hemmen
Holland holds a reputation in motocross with World Champions Dave Strijbos (125), Pedro Tragter (125) and John van de Berk (125 and 250) and many others in sidecar cross. Other impressive Dutch names in the history of solo World Championship of motocross are Gerrit Wolsink, Kees van der Ven, Gerard Rond to mention a few from days longer gone.
This year young Jeffrey Herlings sets the MX2 world on fire but from Holland comes another young MX2 rider finding his way in the 2011 World Championship. He is 20 year old Glenn Coldenhoff of the Jumbo/TVE Team.
Glenn showed a convincing display of his qualities last Sunday at Heerde, round 3 of the Dutch Open Championship, scoring 2nd and 3rd places. In the opening race Coldenhoff was the only rider to finish the heat on the same lap as the winner.
Glenn that was a great day in Heerde. Tell us more, how hard is it to race with Jeffrey?
“Jeffrey is world class, he rides for the World title and he showed in Valkenswaard (last GP) that he is an exceptional talent on sand tracks. Chased by his KTM factory team mate Roczen he crashed on the opening lap in that GP. Within two laps Jeffrey was back in the lead and winning by a mile to show his incredible speed in the sand.”
“It’s nice that he rides the Dutch open championship but same time he makes it hard for the rest to stay with the “Sandmaster”. I was kind of happy with my results in Heerde. Being the only rider not being lapped in moto one by Herlings means I did a good job. In the second start I crashed but I came back from outside the top 30 to a 3rd place at the finish. That was pretty good under the circumstances, it was pretty difficult to overtake so many riders.”
A crash in the start, that’s what you did in Gemert as well at the first national.
“Yeah true and in the second national in Halle I scored a DNF so I’m only in 7th position in the Dutch Open Championship. But I proved in Varsseveld (the 2nd national) I can do much better by taking the holeshot. I am not happy with my position in the Dutch Championship but I am more or less happy with my riding. I know I can do better and make a next step together with my team. In practice I can easily do 2 motos of 40 minutes or longer so my physical condition is good. But it feels I put too much pressure on myself for the races.”
Was that mental pressure bothering you in the Valkenswaard GP?
“Well in the first race I hit Lupino in the first meters and that put me back so I was not even in the top twenty after the start and finished 12th. That start was bit of a bummer, I was wearing the helmet camera for live pictures in the race which was cool but I was hoping for a better race. In the second race I had a much better beginning and worked myself up to 9th position. Not far ahead was Harri Kullas, a GP top 10 rider and in Holland I can quite easily follow his speed. However the pressure got hold of me and slowed me down and I dropped from 9 to 11.”
I followed you in the pre-season and you scored some impressive results in Italy, tell us.
“Italy is cool so this week I go there again in preparation for my next GP which will be Saint Jean d’Angely in France. A hard track so we need more training on hard tracks in Italy like in I did March. I will stay 2 weeks with Chiodi (multi world champion) and he will help me find good tracks to practice and give me some more tips to improve my riding. We will not go to the GP in America and Brazil, instead I’m back on the road to Italy.”
“In the pre-season I scored a 4th place in Mantova and a 3rd in the first Italian Open Championship race in Ponte a Egola. To be on the podium in a race on a hard track with all the big names means a lot to me and is an inspiration to work even harder. My team boss Theo and mechanic Frank work are behind me day and night to create a perfect team.”
So up to Saint Jean d’Angely, have you ever raced there or do you know the track?
“I have seen all races on tv so I know what to expect. This is my second season in the MX2 GP’s and my second year on the Jumbo/TVE Team. They picked me up end 2009 when I finished 7th in the European championship. At the end of that season I won a gold medal in the European Motocross of Nations being on the Dutch team with Marc de Reuver and Ceriel Klein Kromhof.”
And the target for 2011 in MX2, is top ten a realistic target?
“Nah no way. First of all we will miss USA and Brazil. We would get a bike from the DNA Star Racing team but then they decided they won’t even race there. We all think my position this year is between 10 and 15. Top 10 is too much, there are so many great riders in my class at World Championship level, although we work hard to make steps this year.”
“Last year was my MX2 premier year, at the first GP I crashed very hard when we collided in mid-air with Klein Kromhof. I broke my wrist and shattered my elbow which put me out of competition for at least 4 months. At the end of the year at the Lierop GP I scored a 9th so I was back on my level. Then a team victory at the European Motocross of Nations was a sweet surprise to finish the year.”
Feature: Harry van Hemmen Photos: RAY ARCHER
PROFILE Glenn Coldenhoff:
Born: Oss, Holland 13-2-1991
First race: Indoor cross Uden 1991
Hobbies: running and mountainbike
Bike: Yamaha 250F
Favorite track: Cingoli (It)
Best scores: 3rd World Championship Youth 2008, 7th in European Championship and Gold medal European Motocross of Nations 2009, 3rd Ponte a Egola 2011
Present World Championship position MX2: 13th
Website: www.coldenhoffracing.nl
Stanley Leroux Design
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