We’ve got a truly international all-star line-up of pro riders getting set to bang bars around Mill in Holland as the Red Bull Pro Nationals hit mainland Europe for the first time. And with just over a week to go until the main event at the former GP track on August 11-12 more world class riders are signing up all the time…

So far 10 different countries are represented with the factory Red Bull KTM team’s German big-hitter Max Nagl and Belgian giant Ken De Dycker the latest top-flight pilots to enter. Both have got GP wins on their CVs but they’re not the only riders who’ve triumphed at world championship level who will be in action around Mill as we’ve got five more grand prix podium toppers booked in.

As far as current form goes top of the pile has got to be HM Plant KTM UK’s Kevin Strijbos. The Belgian has tasted GP success this season and is rapidly rediscovering the speed that has seen him twice finish as world MX1 vice-champion. And he’ll need all that speed to stay ahead of the likes of home hero Marc de Reuver, super-quick Scot Stephen Sword, fast Frenchman Nico Aubin and sand-loving Estonian Gert Krestinov. The MX1 and MX2 classes race together – but are scored separately – over two 25-minute plus two lap motos which means even the fastest 250F pilots face the prospect of eating race-long roost from the leading 450s although, as we’ve seen time and time again in the UK, the top MX2 riders are capable of mixing it at the sharp end of the field. In the MX2 division we’ve got a mixture of familiar faces from the Red Bull Pro Nationals combined with some up-and-coming continental talents including a big turn-out of Dutch riders hoping to use home advantage to take some major scalps. HM Plant KTM UK’s defending MX2 champ Elliott Banks-Browne leads the charge along with Evo-Tech Stevens Honda’s South African series leader Neville Bradshaw, Emberson Yamaha’s French import Steven Lenoir and Buildbase Honda’s Jordon Booker. Among the home favourites we’ve got Mike Kras and Micha Boy De Wall on a pair of Beursfoon Suzukis, William Saris and Lars Van Berkel. This list is being updated constantly so watch this space for further updates…