Glenn Coldenhoff interview - Injury

Posted on October 29, 2020

GasGas Factory rider Glenn Coldenhoff had a scary moment during the Lommel triple header. While attempting a quick lap the Dutchman crashed after stalling his bike and landed headfirst into the black sand of Lommel. In the first moments after the crash he lost feeling in his arms and had also hurt his shoulder, but fortunately he is in full recovery and already setting his sights on the 2021 season.

With five Grand Prix wins, 16 races wins in MXGP and MX2 and those 1-1-1-1 results at the last two MXoN, the credentials of Coldenhoff are more than good, but it isn't anywhere near where he wants them.

Having raced 157 Grand Prix's in his 12 year career, the Dutchman is a little on the veteran side, but like some other late bloomers, feels the best is yet to come.

We caught up with the friendly and popular rider from Holland and he told us about the experience and how his recovery is going.

MXlarge: Glenn, how have you been, because obviously you had a bit of a scare?

Coldenhoff: Actually, not such a big crash, I made a small mistake, the jump before the pit lane. I came into the jump pretty fast and I needed to brake and I braked a little too long, because I stalled my bike and I thought I could save it, you know, so that is why I stayed on the bike, but the jump was a little too big and I went head first into the ground. Straight away I didn’t feel my arms and I knew something was wrong and I couldn’t move. The doctors were there pretty quickly, and I told them I couldn’t move my arms and that is why I think they red flagged the session. They took really good care of me and were really careful with me. They made a scan at the track already and they could see that T3 and T4 were broken. I then went to see doctor Ton Claus, just to be sure we made some more x-rays, scans and we also did an MRI, just to be sure there was nothing else, because I had hurt my shoulder a little bit, but there was nothing, so that was good. They took great care of me there. I went home on the Wednesday and the first week was really tough, because I could barely more my arms and it was really difficult. I started the medication, because I had a lot of nerve pain, from the impact. I started with the medication and the next day I felt a lot better. We are now one and a half weeks and the progression I have made has been pretty good. I had a similar injury back in 2018 and I knew a little bit how it felt, and I must say, I have a lot less pain than two years ago. Now I see the recovery, it is good, and I am happy about that.

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MXlarge: I can’t remember, but did you lose feeling two years ago?

Coldenhoff: Actually, a little less than now, because now I didn’t feel anything and back in 2018, I had a strange feeling in parts of my hands and parts of my shoulder. I didn’t lose complete feeling, but I did lose my breathing. I could barely breath. Last time I had a lot more pain on my back and less on the nerves and now it is the opposite. My back isn’t 100%, but I feel pretty good. I still have sore shoulders, but it is going away, so that is positive.

MXlarge: I was speaking to Jeffrey and he mentioned he didn’t feel from the neck down and then an hour later, he walked out of the hospital, and went to McDonalds. It is amazing, because first he thought he would end up in a wheelchair, and you have had this experience a little bit before, but you seemed very calm about it?

Coldenhoff: Actually, after big crashes I am rather easy, not getting nervous or anything, I just tell the doctors what I feel. Of course, it was a bit scary, but normally, when you get paralysed, it is from the legs and it goes up, so I knew already a little bit. Of course, it is weird, but with me it came back in five minutes, while what you tell me, with Jeffrey it was 30 minutes, so it was a bit different.

MXlarge: You will have 100% recovery?

Coldenhoff: Yep, exactly.

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MXlarge: Speaking about your year. I am a big believer in you, and I think a lot of people are. You don’t win four motos at the Motocross of Nations unless you are a bit special. In saying that, like so many motocross riders you build and build, like you did at the end of last year and you could see you were reaching where you wanted to be on a regular basis, and you started well, got a GP win this year, and then you had some injuries. After those injuries, do you still have 100% confidence you will get back to the guy who was winning GPs?

Coldenhoff: 100%. Recovery will be 100% and it takes some time, but it is quicker than slow and I have been growing a lot the past few years and it is all about experience of being up front, winning races and winning GPs. I think I am still growing, and I see that on my physical side, I am getting stronger. Getting injured isn’t nice and you need some recovery time, but it is also experience and I believe for 100% I can be as good or better than before.

MXlarge: I guess what you said, once you have done that the question marks are gone from your head, because you know it is possible.

Coldenhoff: Yes, sure. It is definitely building confidence. Before being up front I was nervous and watching behind, but once I started winning, I didn’t look back once. Of course, it is nice winning GPs, but I want to be out front all the time. This is my goal and what I am working for.

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MXlarge: Can you mention what you are doing next year, because there is a lot of talk about Yamaha and we see Ben Watson has just gone there and there will be another rider. Can you tell us anything?

Coldenhoff: No, I can’t mention anything, sorry. Not at this moment.

MXlarge: Finally, the GP year, it’s been a crazy year with the virus and the first bunch of rounds different guys winning, a lot of crashes, and drama, just crazy racing. Now it has toned down a lot and riders seem to be more careful and obviously a lot of guys are out. What is your opinion of it all?

Coldenhoff: You know, it has been tough, very tough. After the coronavirus having three races in a week is pretty intense. Physically we can manage it, but mentally all the time, that is the hard part. With such a competitive class and everyone is trying really hard and worrying about having a seat next year. There was only one thing that counts and that is results. I think there have been more riders taking more risks to get into that position and if you look at all the injuries this year, it is pretty bad, maybe half the field.

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