Glenn Coldenhoff Interview
By Infront Moto Racing on 3rd Sep 15
With Dutch favorite Jeffrey Herlings of the Red Bull KTM Factory team out of the Grand Prix of The Netherlands last weekend a lot of pressure was put onto the shoulders of the other Dutchman, Glenn Coldenhoff.
The Rockstar Energy Suzuki Factory rider produced a victory in Saturday's MXGP qualification race, then finished third overall behind Shaun Simpson and Romain Febvre for the overall, and climbed to 8th in the series points. As the season rolls on Coldenhoff continues to improve and show solid results.
For Coldenhoff the whole Assen experience was one of the best experiences in his short career. While he didn't get the GP victory, he did get the approval of the massive crowd in attendance.
"It was an amazing feeling with the crowd and everything. Saturday went well and I had a good start and won the qualification race. Sunday I didn't get the starts and then it's hard work because the other guys are pulling away and you can't catch them. The first moto Romain was pushing me all the time and I was happy to keep him behind me. The second moto the crowd was behind me and it was really special. I never saw something like this in Holland before and I got goose bumps in the last laps.”
As for his moto's, when the deep sand circuit got rougher, Coldenhoff started to really find his rhythm.
"The track suited me better in the second moto, we didn't change the bike at all and the bike worked well and I was happy for the second place finish and the third place overall.”
As for the move from the MX2 class to the MXGP class, while it started badly with some injuries and trouble adapting to the bigger machine, the Dutch rider is now comfortable with the extra power. It's been a steep learning curve for Coldenhoff, but one he has shown to be able to handle.
"At the start of the season it was really tough getting used to the 450, and I am not the strongest guy out there and as the season went on I got more confident and stronger and I started to trust the bike, knowing what it would do when you hit a bump or something like that. Also the second half of the season is going really well and that helps my confidence.”
Now onto the Grand Prix of Mexico and The Grand Prix of Unites States where Coldenhoff will end his tenor with Suzuki as he returns back to KTM with the Red Bull KTM Factory team in 2016. Another step in the right direction for this friendly young man.
