Red Bull KTM Factory rider Glenn Coldenhoff has recently signed a new deal to remain in the orange team, and for sure it’s a good time for the Dutchman. Holding down 11th place in the MXGP points standings might not seem that impressive, but if you look at the riders behind him, names like Max Anstie, Arminas Jasikonis, Shaun Simpson, Jordi Tixier, and Kevin Strijbos, then he isn’t doing too bad.

Our guy in Loket, David Bulmer caught up with Coldenhoff, and asked him about his season so far and the new deal.

 

Obviously the big news is your contract extension. How happy are you to get that out of the way?

You know, very happy to be honest. There are a lot of good riders at the moment, and not that many seats. I am happy to stay, my third year with the team, and I really enjoy working with those guys. I fit into the team, I have good team-mates. I think I can still learn from them and I look forward to another year.

 

As you mentioned, there are a lot of good riders and only so many factory rides. I can imagine you worry about that, or do you just concentrate on the racing?

I am fully concentrated, and I felt this a little bit coming, because they also enjoyed working with me. All season I just concentrated on racing. In the end, to make the deal happen is good.

 

You mention that you work well with the team. The team is mainly Italians, and you are Dutch. How does that work, are you usually in Holland or sometimes in Italy?

Depends on which GP’s we have. Before Ottobiano, I flew to Italy a week before the Grand Prix and we train there together with Tony and sometimes I go to Italy for hard-pack training and Tony is often in Belgium and we try and practice together, to lift each other up a little bit.

 

I hear a lot of riders say it takes a couple of years to learn the bike and you are into your third-year next year, with this team. Do you feel like you are now coming into your year to make your real chance to show what you can do?

For sure. The first year I really struggled and this year I am always up there. The field is so strong you can finish 15th or third, so it can be a strange season. Also, because there are not that many rides, everyone is pushing really hard. The bike is really good at the moment and I feel comfortable on it, and if I can go into my third year like this, I feel confident for next year.

Coldenhoff (right) signing autographs with his teammate Cairoli.

You podiumed in Indonesia, but it seemed like the crash in Mexico really set you back.

Yes, sure, you know it is also a little in the mind, but if you are 5% less inside then it can be the difference for five places. I just need to be 100% and then it will be ok, if you are not 100%, then a 15th place is where you might end. We have 18 races, but you need to be your top level for those 18 days.

 

We have a couple of sand tracks coming up. How much are you looking forward to those?

Yes, for sure. My home Grand Prix is coming up (Assen) and I have always been on the podium there, so for sure that is the goal again. We have Lommel, Switzerland, where I did well last year, so I like a lot of the tracks coming up.

 

The calendar for 2018 was released, do you look at and look forward to some tracks or all of them, what do you see?

I like it, it’s a mix. It is always good to go to Loket, and old school track, and we have new school tracks. I never liked to ride in Germany, but this year I finished sixth overall, so it doesn’t matter really.

 

Motocross of Nations is coming up in October. You guys finished second last year, nearly won it. First tell me what that was like?

That was crazy to be honest. We trained together a little bit with the Dutch team and we talked about where could we finish. We knew France and USA were strong, but the other teams were similar, we thought with some luck we could finish third, but we nearly won it, it was very impressive and second was good for us.

 

Similar Dutch team in 2017 for the MXoN?

For sure we have a good chance, for sure after last year. The same teams will be strong again, but if we have our day, maybe we can win it.

Ray Archer images

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