THe Dutch Images Ray Archer Story Geoff Meyer
The Dutch have probably been the best team in the World for a few years now, so their victory in this years Monster Energy Motocross of Nations isn’t a big surprise. Now, with four very good riders to pick from don’t be surprised if the Dutch win again and again at the MXoN. Here is what they told the media at the end of the Sunday.
Glenn Coldenhoff: It’s been an amazing year. We have had some good days with rain. Of course, the goal was to win. We will definitely be disappointed with something less. I am glad we made it. It was very tough with those conditions. As you can see, it was an amazing weekend. We had the crowd behind us. That gave me definitely some extra. Tim (Gajser) was riding good as well. He was pushing me hard in that last moto, but I managed to get him behind me. Going 1-1 again, same as last year but this one was definitely more nice than last year because of the home crowd. Normally the plan was to do everyone one time first gate pic, but after such an amazing race in the first moto we decided to put me on the inside. That definitely worked out well. Then for the last moto, we still hadn’t decided on the start line what we do. Whose decision was that? In the end we both said, we want to go first because of a good start. In the end Patrice made the decision. “You are the good starter,” and I know that also myself, but still. It was a bit difficult because I was in fifth place, I guess. Still made my way up to first. In the end it was a good decision. Well done to Patrice. Jeffrey Herlings: Yeah, there’s two sides. The weather was not in the plan. We were working hard the last couple of weeks but always in the dry. Coming here it was a completely different story. Good [weather] I think a few months, and then this weekend it was raining all weekend. I messed up my starts. Three times yesterday we were almost complete outside, so I had an excuse, but today I got twice the inside gate pick and twice I messed up completely my starts. From an individual point of view, I’m very not satisfied. Obviously first moto I almost won. The second moto even went down three times and still managed to finish fourth. So obviously a second and a fourth is not bad, but not what we wanted to come here for. We wanted to go for a 1-1. Due to the bad start and whatsoever, we didn’t make it happen. But we’re really here for is to win as a nation, and that’s what we did. Got to thank both my teammates who did an awesome job. It’s just a small country. To have won, it’s amazing. How difficult were the track conditions here? Obviously, we know it was wet. We know it was soft. But I think personally the track crew did a great job getting the track race ready after the B final. Almost like a brand-new track every time. But it didn’t take long to break down, did it? How much did the conditions play in your mistakes or
not being able to ride at your normal level? I think they did not a great job because they kept flattening the track, so due to that, it was just like the first six, seven laps was just completely flat. You could just open it up. It was almost impossible to pass. So, once it developed good again after a couple of laps, you got a few more lines. Due to the rain, I think when you flat it, it just got even more soft. Definitely after the B final it looked like a mess. I think during the day they should have just done the take-offs [to the jumps but left the rest alone]. But it doesn’t matter. Racing’s racing. The track is what it is. Furthermore, I think for the circumstances we had and regarding the rain, it’s still okay. Calvin Vlaanderen: Yeah, for sure. Last year obviously didn’t go as planned. We came into this year confident and feeling ready. I think last year we should have won as well. This year obviously with the rain it was anything can happen. This morning we all sat down and we said, we’re just going to do our best. Whatever the result is, we still go for the win. Obviously with the rain and that, anything can happen. For myself, I had a pretty good day. Obviously, I wanted to win MX2, but Thomas (Olsen) was riding good and he took it both races. I think I was second and third, second overall for MX2 which is good. I was happy with that. Just happy to help the team. Obviously last year I felt really like I let them down a lot. I couldn’t see for a few weeks. Felt terrible. I’m going to sleep good tonight, I think. Even before the second race, they came to me and said, “You did a great job.” You just needed one good race. Normally they have two good riders, but still I wanted to do better in the second race for myself but also for the team. Unfortunately had to come into the goggle lane and change goggles, otherwise maybe I could have been a little bit higher. But going into the third moto I had full trust in my two teammates. Didn’t even stress about it at all. Glenn was riding good out front. Jeffrey, unfortunately, I saw him lying in the fence by the waves. I was thinking, he’s going to come back for sure, and he did. So, for sure I had trust in them. They rode really well.
KING COLDENHOFF Story Geoff Meyer images Ray Archer
Had you told anyone Glenn Coldenhoff would be mentioned in the same sentence as the two greatest Grand Prix riders of all time, Stefan Everts and Antonio Cairoli, I think just about everyone would ask why. Well, last weekend the Dutchman joined the two legends as the only guy in 40 years, and maybe ever to go 1-1-1-1 in two years of the MXoN. Everts did it in 1998 (England) and 1999 (Brazil) and Cairoli in 2012 (Belgium) and 2013 (Germany). It isn’t hard to think his 1-1 performance at Redbud was a one-off, his one day in his career he would be in such a position, but now, with two Grand Prix wins in 2019, and his second 1-1 at the Nations, it is clear this is more than just a day that the stars were in line and he got lucky.
It might be hard to find a nicer person in the GP paddock, and while there are many, the quiet, respectful Coldenhoff has one eye on the 2020 MXGP championship, a championship that will be fought between legends Cairoli, Herlings, Gajser and that teenager Prado. Adding the name Coldenhoff to that list seems crazy, but on his privateer Standing Construct KTM, it would be stupid not to include him. We decided not to bother him at Assen on Sunday, as his media requirements was a little more than crazy. Probably 20 or 30 interviews all talking about the same thing. He was kind enough to call us this morning and explain the weekend of his life. MXlarge: Firstly, congratulations again on your amazing weekend. How was your Sunday night, did you party or just go home? Coldenhoff: As soon as it finished, I went to bed for sure. We hadn’t achieved anything like that before, and for me same as last year and in front of the home crowd and in front of our King, it was a special day. We actually took it very easy, because I wasn’t tired from the racing, but tired from all the media and everything else. MXlarge: I think that weather also makes people tired, the wind and rain. Coldenhoff: Yes, because preparing for a race like that is hard, with making decisions with the goggles and talking about stops for new goggles and you need to prepare, although I didn’t have any trouble with my goggles. MXlarge: I was looking at some statistics from the Nations and only two men in the last 40 years have gone 1-1 two years in a row, Stefan Everts in 1998 and 1999 and Antonio Cairoli in 2012 and 2013. That is pretty good company, right? Coldenhoff: Yes, that is special. And those two guys the only guys who did that? MXlarge: From the last 40 years yes, but from the 70s, 60s, and 50s it is a little hard to find out, but I will try and find out, but still, the two best GP riders ever and you are in their company. Well done Glenn. What is also rather interesting, Stefan won his first 1-1 in the mud in England and the second was in Brazil, so a little similar to your mud experiences and racing outside of Europe in USA. Coldenhoff: I was speaking to Jeffrey about it, and he said he has never gone 1-1 and he went 1-2-1-2 and now you tell me this, it is even more impressive. MXLarge: Tell me, your family. I have seen your brother around a lot, and your dad was in the same bar at the hotel on the Saturday night of the Nations. They are always around and seem really supportive. You have a good family, which obviously is important. Coldenhoff: Yes, sure. When I was younger, I did everything with them together. My mum would prepare the food for the races and we started small, just race by race and it started going up and my brother stopped his racing career, and he also liked to party and stuff like that and my parents would say you need to work hard for it, or stop and enjoy life. I was the only one putting the
effort in, but still, my brother is always there and supporting me and it is nice to have them around. During the race weekends my dad is helping with cleaning and stuff like that. The family is still close, and it is nice to have them around. MXlarge: The event itself is huge, but then you get to meet the King. How were you in that, I mean often when meeting famous people, it can be rather nervy and even surreal. How were you? Coldenhoff: For me it was a big honour to meet him. I was speaking to Jeffrey about it, because he had already met the King, and in the morning we were talking about it and I asked what should we say to the King, but it went smooth and he enjoyed the racing and I am happy we could win it for the King, because if we didn’t win we would have had a different conversation. MXlarge: I saw a lot of photos of him on Paulin’s bike and other things. He is a good King, but it is nice to see that. Coldenhoff: Yes, it was, and it was also on the front page of all the newspapers in Holland, which is good for the sport. MXlarge: A lot of interest, but tell me about that, now many interviews did you have to do? Coldenhoff: No, not at all, you go from one to another and it looks like it never stops. It was really crazy, and I never had it like that before and if you look at the newspaper it is nice to have a lot of attention and great for the motocross. MXLarge: I mean that ads another element to it, and obviously Jeffrey has taken the sport to a new level in Holland, but now do you also feel you can do your part to help the sport grow in Holland? Coldenhoff: Yes, Jeffrey has helped with his four World titles. An event like this, the Motocross des Nations, in Holland and we win it, that helps for sure and gives the sport more attention. MXLarge: You have gone 1-1 two years in a row at the Motocross of Nations, you win two GPs in a row and could have had four if Jeffrey had been friendlier to you and not passed on the final laps, now, everyone is talking about 2020, with a nine time World champion in Antonio Cairoli, a four time World champion in Jeffrey Herlings, a three time World champion in Tim Gajser, a two time World champion in Jorge Prado, and now Glenn Coldenhoff joins that group. How does that feel? Coldenhoff: It would be something. MXlarge: Well, you must feel confident? Coldenhoff: Yes, sure, sure. But, this year there were a lot of guys injured and it is a part of the sport and the amount of risk you take and you need to handle those difficult times and I think if I go like I have the last races, I can be up there. I mean last season and even this season, it is hard mentally when you give 100% and finish seventh. You have to believe in yourself, but sometimes it is hard to keep believing, but now, I have won a lot of races and the last time I won races was 2015, but to have that now in my mind, I feel I can do that again next year.
Pauls Jonass and The MXoN Story Geoff Meyer images JP
The Latvia rider Paul Jonass enjoyed a successful Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, with second overall in the Open class with 2-3 results, and eight place with Team Latvia, their best performance in the history of the country at this event. Jonass a former MX2 World champion is making great progress as he tries to return to the top of the podium in GP, and to be honest, he might be the dark horse of the 2020 MXGP championship. A hard worker, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider will begin his preparation after a short trip back to Latvia for his sister’s wedding, and then it will be testing, training and getting his body and mind ready for what could be one of the most difficult motocross championships in the sports history.
Jonass might not be mentioned in the same words as Cairoli, Herlings, Prado, Gajser and Coldenhoff, but he could very easily slip into that group with a good start to 2020. We caught up with the Latvian rider yesterday as he was preparing for some testing with Husqvarna. MXlarge: We spoke last week about the Nations and I said maybe you could get a top five, and you didn’t think it possible, but you did get top ten, which is great and your best effort yet for Team Latvia. Jonass: Well, for sure it was overall for me and also for Team Latvia. It was pretty cool, okay, maybe the weather could have been better, it wasn’t the best, but everyone enjoyed the racing and the atmosphere was great. I think the people at Youthstream did a great job with the track, and I had a lot of fun and it was great. MXlarge: The track was a lot different on the Saturday compared to the GP tracks of the past, it flowed a lot better and seemed faster. It seemed like it was really good for racing and a pity we didn’t get that on Sunday. Jonass: Yes, for sure, they did a good job with the new layout, there was more flow and better options for passing. It was a big pity it rained so much, because that track would have gotten really rough and it would have been good for racing, but now for Sunday the track was flooded and they had to work on the track a lot, because it got so deep and sloppy, it needed a lot of work and they did a good job. MXLarge: How was Sunday, I mean, I know it was sloppy, but what was the most difficult things because of that rain? Jonass: Actually, Sunday early it was still good, they did a really good job on it. The biggest problem was at the end of the races it got so deep in front of the grandstands there, that it was easy to get stuck and some corners got deep and you really needed to carry your flow to not get stuck. MXLarge: Did you guys party on Sunday?
Jonass: No, we had a nice dinner and had some nice talks. It didn’t go too late, just a longer evening with good people around. We didn’t celebrate too much because I need to do testing this week, so have to still stay professional. MXLarge: A lot of riders mentioned the weather also knocked them out a little and Monday they were really tired. Jonass: Well, Monday I didn’t feel really fit, but I am always like that after the races, I usually can’t sleep until 2am,
so not that good for recovery. I thought maybe my legs would hurt, because I was using my legs a lot in some corners to keep momentum. But yesterday, my ass hurt, and I didn’t know why. The track was strange, and you used completely different muscles than usual. MXLarge: Speaking about Glenn (Coldenhoff), and no disrespect to Glenn, but when you see him doing what he is doing now, at 27 years of age, I often wonder how many others could do that, my gut feeling is there are like 10 guys who with the right off-season, and a little momentum could also be winning races, but are not because of injuries or whatever. Would you agree? Jonass: Yes, for sure. Glenn has done a really good job and is strong. He has surprised everyone, maybe even himself. The 450 class is tough, and you have to work hard and if you work hard then it will come, but you need to be fit and strong and Glenn has done a really good job. I will work hard in the wintertime and I have good people to help me get there. The MXGP class is tough, we all know that, but if you work hard the rewards will come. MXlarge: So, what do you have coming up now in the winter. Any racing, or just testing, maybe a small holiday? Jonass: We have the testing this week, then I will go to Latvia, my sister is getting married in October and after her wedding I will fly back to Belgium and start my preparation for 2020. We will at some point go to somewhere else to train, maybe Spain or Sardinia. Somewhere warmer. The season will come quickly, so we don’t have that much time. End of February or March we will have the first Grand Prix, so I will have a few weeks off, then back to work for 2020. I am still a young guy and I need to work really hard and sacrifice some holidays to catch up with these guys.
EVERY S E
WATCH LIVE
KEND EE W
E V ER D N Y O C
SATURDAY & SUNDAY LIVE
Available on multiple devices
E!
E
V ER V I Y RACE L
BUY NOW Follow MXGP: