There is no doubt, Glenn Coldenhoff is a contender for this years MXGP championship. Without question, the two favourites are defending champion Tim Gajser and 2018 champion Jeffrey Herlings, but then behind those two are Coldenhoff and Romain Febvre. Here is what a bunch of riders thought of their weekend.

Glenn Coldenhoff: “What can I say? It’s been a great day! After qualifying we made some adjustments to my bike’s suspension and it really paid off in the races. The Standing Construct team have worked hard during lockdown to keep improving our bikes on the starts and it clearly showed today. I started 2nd in race 1, nearly had the holeshot and then I took the lead on the 3rd lap. After a few laps there was a big rock in the rut I was in, which I hit, and it knocked me off balance just before the waves section. I re-joined the race quickly and made another charge towards the end, but it was too late. I finished in 2nd place, which was really good after a not so great qualifying. Race 2, another great start taking the holeshot! It was a tough race though, especially during the final laps, but I’m really happy to have won for myself and the team, especially as it’s only the 3rd MXGP for GASGAS. It’s just awesome. It’s nice to be back in MXGP, I really like the 1-day format and I can’t wait for Wednesday.”

Tim Gajser: I got a solid start in both motos, getting the holeshot on my Honda CRF450RW in race one and then right behind Glenn in race two, so I’m happy with how that went. My qualification was good too, giving me first gate pick and it was good to see that we were able to adapt to the new format quickly. Unfortunately, after winning the first race, I had a crash in the waves in race two as I tried to change my lines in order to make the pass for the lead. I did my best to re-join the race as quickly as possible but I dropped down to fifth, which is where I finished. Obviously I would have liked to have made that pass but it didn’t quite work and instead I had to settle for second overall. The championship gap has closed to four points so I’m happy with that and I’m excited for the next two rounds here on Wednesday and Sunday. A big thanks to everyone for getting the series running again and for my team who have continued to work hard during this break.

Romain Febvre: “My first GP for Kawasaki, we are already on the podium and I want more. I am so happy not only for myself, but also for the team; we have come a long way after the disappointment with my injury just before the opening GP in February. It’s almost a year since I raced a GP whilst all the others have kept on riding so I have to be happy with this result. We had a lot of changes during the winter – new bike, new team – but I feel really good with both. I have shown I have the speed in the warm-up races; now I need to be consistent. My first start was very good. I was second but at the second corner I touched with Seewer; I lost a few positions but I found a good rhythm to come back to third, only a few seconds behind the winner. At the second start Jasikonis hit the gate and then Herlings cut my line, but I was on the inside in the first corner so I still had a decent start. I was faster than the leaders close to the end of race two but they really went for it on the last lap so I was satisfied with third. I made a few little mistakes during the first lap each time so I have to work on that. My thanks to the team who work so hard; I love the bike so much. I am not right back at the top yet, but I will soon be there!“

Jeffrey Herlings: “Today could have been better. Some bad starts, and in the first moto I was a bit too slow at the beginning. I came back from last to 4th but wasted too much energy pushing through to the front. I’m definitely not satisfied but we’ve started racing again now and I know what to do for when we go again in three days.”

Tom Vialle: “It was a good weekend and I’m really happy. There was a lot of water on the track in the morning, but I felt good on the bike by the time of the races and made great starts. Jago crashed in the first moto and then I was comfortable in first position. We had a good fight in the second moto and we passed each other on the last lap. It was decent fight and I was happy to overtake him at the end because it was very hot and I was pretty tired. I just made a little mistake and he got me back. It was so close but I’m happy to win the overall.”

Roan van de Moosdijk: “The day started good with second to Mathys in qualification on the very last lap. I had two good starts and stayed calm and consistent; I just rode my own race each time. They left the track after yesterday’s European races and such a long dry spell; it was really tough with strange lines and bumps but we found some good solutions on the suspension and I knew for sure that some guys would make mistakes. Second is the best GP result of my career and I’d like to dedicate this success to my grandpa who sadly passed away last week. Now we have tomorrow to recover and then on Tuesday we will prepare for the next GP the following day.“

Mathys Boisrame: “It’s great to have such a good day! I was happy with the pole position in the qualifying session, but the first race was not easy as my front brake was damaged at the start when I touched with another rider; racing here without the front brake is not easy but I stayed calm without mistakes so I was happy with a fourth position and I knew I could improve this result in race two. I felt strong in the second moto; I had good lap times, I was close to the leading group and I came back right behind Vialle and Geerts but the goal was to join my teammate on the podium and I started to feel it in my legs so I didn’t take any risks in the final laps. The track was rough but I like that and we’ll be back here two more times on Wednesday and next Sunday so I’m confident for both of those GPs.”

Mikkel Haarup: The first race was OK with some good laps at the end of the race. In the second moto I felt good straight away and was looking to make some passes but I high-sided on the exit from a corner; I wasn’t injured but I had lost any chance to score points so I just tried to finish the race. We will be back on Wednesday.”

Tony Cairoli: “Today was very tough. To restart everything after five months meant it would be tricky because we didn’t know the race pace, but I knew I had trained well and could do good. The only problem was my starts and we saw it at this track where it is difficult to come through the pack. I felt really good to come back to 7th in the first moto and was happy. I was determined to do better in the second and was thinking about going for victory to be honest. I had a better start but had trouble again on the first corner and was hit by another rider. I twisted my knee again. I was not feeling 100% at the beginning and was taking it easy but made another mistake and was outside the top thirty. After that I tried to re-group and bring it home. This is not the result we wanted but I saw a lot of people had troubles this first race. We won’t panic too much but we want to be further forward. I want to get behind the gate again and prove that I can get there. It is so important lately to be at the front at the start of motos. We need to work a bit more on this direction.”

Jorge Prado: “I’m very happy. I came here with a month of training, so to be 7th overall and to be better every time I was on track today means we have to be satisfied. I turned around my bad qualifying with good starts. The track was very tough and they left it bumpy from the European races yesterday. It was hard physically and I need to keep working on that but, overall, I felt quite decent. Speed-wise I am good. I just need to keep getting better.”

Rene Hofer: “The first moto was great. I moved up to 4th quite quickly and kept in the top five. I still had some energy but made a few small mistakes and I ran out of time to attack [Mathys] Boisrame. In the second one I came-together with another rider and someone else hit me, destroying my front wheel and I couldn’t continue. I feel a bit sore now but should be ready to go on Wednesday again.”

Ben Watson: “It is honestly so nice to be here and in this environment again. It has been months! To come back now, it feels so good and I am hoping it can continue. It was quite a strange day, like this is the GP finished now, and usually we would have only done qualifying at this point. The starts let me down a little bit, but I was pretty happy with my riding all day. Overall a solid start and solid first race back so that is definitely something to build on.”

Jago Geerts: “It was a tough day. I had a decent time practice, but in the first race I had two big crashes and only finished 16th so that was not really good. In the second heat, I got a good start in third and working my way up to first. So that was a good race and I just hope I can do the next races like that.”

 Jeremy Seewer: "Decent start to the week. We need to consider that we have three races this week as well, so it is important we stay healthy. Any crash that could make you feel stiff a few days after will make it tricky. In the first race I started off calm. I dropped back a bit, but I was still in safety mode after not racing for such a long time. I didn't want to make that mistake of going too hard too soon, and I managed to pick up my pace as the race went on and finished fifth. In race two, I felt I knew the track a lot better and that I had to speed to win. I almost got Glenn [Coldenhoff] in the last lap, but just missed out and missed the podium. I feel good and I look forward to the next two GPs here."

Gautier Paulin: "We started on a track that was already rough from yesterday, so we had to be fast immediately. I really struggled with that. I got arm-pump and was riding tight, so I only had the tenth time in qualifying. The place was okay for the gate. I got an okay start in race one, but I didn't manage a good first corner and I stalled the bike. Calvin Vlaanderen crashed pretty hard in turn one in race two and his handlebar went into my boot, so I was totally blocked and it was painful too. I started from totally last. It was not easy and I am not happy with the result."

Mitch Evans: It’s good back racing and it’s good to back at the GPs with everyone even though there is a few restrictions. I’m just glad to be here racing really because the surgeon told me when I first had my operation that I would be out for six months so to be on the line in four months, I’m pretty happy with it. Unfortunately I got caught up in the first turn pile ups in both motos, and fought my way back to 19th and 18th so it wasn’t great but I’m treating it as a building process and I need to regroup for Wednesday and work on my starts in order to make my life a bit easier.

Alvin Ostlund: It’s good to get the first race done here in Latvia. 11th overall which I’m quite happy with especially after that first race as I had good pace and good lines. I was a little bit tired for the second race and rode a little bit tight, but it’s been a pretty good weekend for me. Also timed practice wasn’t too bad with 11th fastest so I’m happy. I liked the track too. It was quite rough and you need to think about your racing but again I like the track and I’m looking forward to the next two races here.

Nathan Crawford: I had a few issues with transponders in qualifying and although I put in a really good lap, my transponder didn’t record it. This gave me a poor gate pick which lead to a pretty average start in race one. I battled my way through the pack for the whole race and finished in 14th, which on paper isn’t the best, but I was very happy with my riding. I got a good start in the second race and raced hard to finish 8th, so that was much better and my best result so for on the MX2 World Championship, so that gives me confidence and I feel that I have more speed in me and will build off that result now.

Arnaud Tonus: "Things started off okay. I felt good in practice and my position was okay for the start. First moto was going really good for the first 20 minutes, but then I had a big crash. For some reason from there I just really struggled. I don't really know why... I just lost the feeling. It's a shame. because it was going so good in the beginning. Now all I can do is try to regroup and be ready for the next one."

Arminas Jasikonis: “It was nice to be back racing MXGP again today with a slightly different format with everything on one day. I think it was good. I was consistent with my results, so this is a good thing, sixth place in both races, which is a good place to build from. I rode a little tight early in the first race and just eased my way back into racing the MXGP class. About halfway in I went from ninth to fifth in a couple of laps so that was good and then ended the race in sixth. Race two I was a little too eager and hit the start gate, but as I was on the inside I stayed tight around the first corner and missed a big pile up. I then had a battle with Jorge Prado for a few laps before moving into sixth place around halfway through the race. I then stayed here until the finish so two sixths and sixth overall. The bike was great on the track today, it was a tough track but the bike set up was perfect, so it made it much easier for me.” Ivo Monticelli: “It was great to be racing MXGP again but not the weekend I hoped for. In the 1st race I was going well, before having quite a big crash on the jump at the far end of the circuit. I was ok but my bike was too damaged to re-join the race. In race 2, I was involved in the 1st corner crash with many riders. When I was able to pick my bike up it was clear that it wasn’t possible to continue because of damage from the crash. It’s really difficult for me to accept, leaving races like this. However, we’re racing again on Wednesday, so I need to stay focused and get some points on the board for myself and the Standing Construct GASGAS team.”

Simon Langenfelder: “It was a tough day for me. In qualifying I couldn’t find my rhythm and qualified 18th so I was in the middle of the gate for the races. In the 1st race I got pushed wide in a corner and off the track. I regrouped and started to move forwards in that race, but then I had a couple more crashes, so I decided to focus on the 2nd race as I was so far behind. I got a great start in race 2 and ran 9th for a lot of the moto, then 10th for a few laps. Towards the end of the race I had some problems and ended the race 21st. For sure it’s not what I wanted but this is only my 3rd GP and I’m learning all the time. I’m looking forward to racing again on Wednesday.”

Thomas Kjer Olsen: “It’s great to be back racing again although I didn’t know if I’d be able to race. Last Wednesday I had a big crash, fracturing my shoulder blade and my neck and shoulder are really sore. I had it taped up for riding today and qualifying was a struggle, but I lined up for race one just to see what I could do. I got a pretty decent start and then the adrenaline took over. I was sixth for a long time but towards the end of the race I was in a lot of pain and the track had lots of square bumps, so it was tough. I actually had a better second race. Not such a great start but I was able to keep moving forwards and finished ninth. So, some decent points. I’m going to rest now ahead of Wednesday and look to improve my results.”

Jed Beaton: “Qualifying went really well and I’m happy with my speed. I had a good start in race one and caught the edge of a rut entering a corner early on and fell. I was then dead last and coming through the pack pretty well, I got up to 18th and then someone just ran me off the track. So, the work I did was for nothing and then I had to start over. I used up a little too much energy in that one, basically battling the whole race. In the second moto, I didn’t get the best of starts and ran eighth for a little while. I then pushed hard to get up to sixth but by then fifth was just too far ahead to close in on. I’m looking forward to Wednesday, it’ll be a new race and I’m going in with an open mind so hopefully I can stay out of trouble and get some decent results.”

Clément Desalle: “Of course my weekend was disappointing. At the first start I touched together with Tonus and I didn’t find a good feeling with the track or the heat. My start was better in the second race; the first ten minutes were OK but then I couldn’t maintain the rhythm. We know what we can improve for Wednesday, and the goal will be to do much better than today.”

Tom Guyon: “It was physically tough this first round in Latvia. I have the speed, I got good starts, but physically the last ten minutes were tough for me. It was frustrating to get a penalty in race one; twice 6on the track is not that bad, I need to work the physical side in hot conditions as my body never felt comfortable when it’s so hot. For sure the rhythm is very high when you are with the leading group, nobody gives up and as I couldn’t train this week after my crash in Magescq that was not easy but we won’t give up.”

Petar Petrov: “Racing was OK until my small crash during the second race. In the first one I was riding with a good speed, and was 17 not so far from a group of riders but I made some mistakes in the last four laps to finish seventeenth. In the second moto I got a good start in 12>sup class="" but during the opening lap I went outside of the track and came back around 16>sup class="", but I lost my rhythm after this incident; I regroup and join a group fighting for the top fifteen when I had a small crash. The bike was damaged so I pulled out, but overall the speed is not so bad, we still need to work on it! Now two days to recover and back to action on Wednesday.”>i class="

Mike Gwerder: “It was a hard day with a lot of riding! The time practice session wasn’t the best with a 14 position in my group, but I got a great start from the 28>sup class="" gate! I did the entire race in the top ten, but in the last lap I crashed hard, not my fault, and finished only 17>sup class="". Second moto was terrible, my start was not bad but my riding was not good at all and I finished 19>sup class="">th. My speed and rhythm in the first moto was OK, looking forward now for the next round on Tuesday.”

Lorenzo Locurcio: “It was tough. The track was very slippery so that took me a while to get used to; qualifying was difficult so I had an outside gate which meant I got bad starts and was coming from outside the top thirty to finish twelfth in the first moto and eleventh in the second for eighth overall. I can’t complain but I know I’ve got more and I’m ready to improve on my speed. It will be perfect if they don’t change the track too much for Tuesday; I’m looking forward to it.”

Pierre Goupillon: “In the first moto another rider cut across my line on the first lap and I crashed. I was coming back when another rider hit my front wheel; I had no more front brake and was forced to retire. My second start was good, but again someone hit me during the race and once more I had to regain positions until another incident forced my retirement. It was a frustrating weekend, but we’ll regroup for the next race on Tuesday.”

Calvin Vlaanderen: Overall I am satisfied with the results from today. I still feel like I can improve a lot more, but we take it step by step. First moto I put way too much energy into passing riders the first 2 laps and got burnt out. Second moto I was involved in a start crash and managed to fight back just outside top 10. We will take these next 2 days to recover and then we go again on Wednesday.

Alessandro Lupino: Happy to be back on racing but I was little bit too stressed out. I was not riding free and only in the second moto I had fun and I was riding well. I enjoyed it a lot and am looking forward to racing again.

Thomas Covington: Today was difficult for me on a really rough track but we’re going to make some changes and just try to keep progressing each race.

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