Glenn Coldenhoff must be one of the proudest men you will find in The Netherlands and when it comes to his country, he is all in, maybe even orange blood. The fact he hasn’t missed a Monster Energy Motocross of Nations since 2012, yes, 14 years ago say enough (he hasn’t been selected for 2024).

We all remember what he did in 2018 at RedBud and then followed that up at Assen in 2019, and those four 1-1-1-1 results saw The Netherlands finish a very unlucky second in America and then win their first ever MXoN at home in Assen. And yes, then we all saw that Glenn Coldenhoff smile on full beam.

It is also little surprise, that a home Grand Prix gets the best out of Coldenhoff and his performance last weekend at the Arnhem circuit was scintillating. A Saturday qualification win and then 3-4 for fourth overall on Sunday. He really deserved a podium place, but there are three guys who pretty much own the podium in 2024.

It was the performance of the season for the Fantic man, but we all know, when the chips are down and a bunch of 259GC fans are in attendance, he will put on a show, and he did last weekend.

Despite what has been a pretty average season by his standards, Coldenhoff still sits in sixth place in the MXGP points and it just 55 points behind fourth placed man Calvin Vlaanderen and 52 points behind fifth placed rider, Jeremy Seewer. With Vlaanderen struggling a little with an injury, there is no reason why Coldenhoff can’t climb into the top five in the championship and end his season on a high.

In a career that started in 2008 and saw him win his first Grand Prix at Matterley Basin in 2013, he has finished top five before, in fact as high as third (in 2019) and at 33 years of age, you just know this young man, isn’t finished with GP wins and better results sooner, rather than later.

We caught up with Coldenhoff after his fourth place in Arnhem and as always, we were greeted with that famous smile and positive attitude. I probably have said it before, but its sure refreshing having such a person behind the recorder (although his countryman Jeffrey Herlings is also always happy, friendly and positive when doing interviews with us as is Tom Gajser).

MXlarge: I think it is no secret, when you are riding for your country, or in front of your countrymen, you have had the best results of your career, Redbud in 2018 and Assen in 2019 and now you put on this performance here in Arnhem, which was very impressive when you consider who fast the big three are riding at the moment. It must be a big thing for you riding at home?

Coldenhoff: It is always a big thing, I mean, I am a proud Dutchman and I have a lot of fans, with a big support club and they came with a big, big van here and it is super nice to ride in front of them. Having good results in The Netherlands, means a lot to me. For example, I took three holeshots, led for some laps, both motos and also yesterday and the crowd, they went wild, all over the track. It gives you such a feeling and I feel that this is what motocross is all about.

MXLarge: If you think about the European championship football supporters from The Netherlands and we saw the crowd this weekend, it was just amazing and really exciting. I find the Dutch fans some of the best fans in the World for sport. In this small area around the track in Arnhem, because it is a very small facility compared to some of the other GP circuits, but because the crowd are all pushed in together, it makes for a great atmosphere when a Dutchman is doing well, goosebump moments. How is that for you, leading the pack, do you get goosebumps when hearing them?

Coldenhoff: Not goosebumps, but definitely motivation level goes plus three. It is super, super nice and we also have a lot of good Dutch riders this weekend. For the fans its very good and I believe in all classes they did very well (Dutch won the Women’s, 125cc and MXGP, with Kay De Wolf second in MX2). It has been an amazing day for motocross, and I think the fans in The Netherlands had an amazing weekend.

MXLarge: Yes, they won three of the four classes, Kay let them down a bit. Tell me, you must ride here a lot, but what is the difference between training here and then a GP with four classes, because it got very rough today?

Coldenhoff: It is always the same. In training, it is completely different, than on race day, Lommel is the same. It is all about track preparation, we have four classes here and we don’t have that during the week. You can train as many times as you want in Lommel, and the GP is like a different track. I would say in the past, with a Dutch national race, we had good riders and similar conditions to this.

MXLarge: By your own standards, you have had a tough year, and you haven’t been around the front of the pack much, and that pace at the front with Jorge, Tim and Jeffrey, and those guys sometimes look like they are on the edge of their abilities. Are you on the edge, riding over your ability, how is it to be on that pace for you?

Coldenhoff: I am over the edge (laughing). No, I mean, the guys at the front, the guys I was battling with, they still need to have a title, and they all feel like they can have it. I was just, for this weekend, trying to get on the box and fight with those guys. The pace is unbelievable and, in the past, you could take a pace and then go a bit faster at the end, but it isn’t like that anymore, its wide open in the first lap and wide open at the finish line. Everyone is so fit and so strong and it’s a tough situation for everyone. We are all going over the limit for sure.

MXLarge: You obviously have Switzerland now and I am sure you have some confidence and also momentum. You are also good on hard pack, so it will suit you and it isn’t like you are a sand specialist. How do you go into Switzerland mentally?

Coldenhoff: We will ride on hard pack during the week and today was definitely a confidence booster. Last year I didn’t have a good GP in Switzerland, I messed up completely, so I am looking forward to doing better this year. I have shown in the past I can ride hard-pack, and I should keep those starts going, like I did this weekend and then I think we are good to battle up front again.

MXLarge: You are not on the Dutch MXoN team, which I would say is fair enough, because the guys on it have been in better form, and they deserve their spot, but you must still be disappointed?

Coldenhoff: I more or less expected it. If you look at the championship, Calvin is doing really well and of course Kay and Jeffrey are in good form. I am in sixth, so its clear. I should have been more on the throttle. It is disappointing or sure, but the best ones need to do and that is Calvin. I heard he is injured, and I hope he is okay, but I will miss being there, because I have been in the team since 2012. Only one Nations didn’t happen, because of Covid, but I did every year outside of that.

MXlarge: As you said, Calvin is injured and I am sure you don’t want him to miss it due to injury, but you would no doubt come into the team if he isn’t fit?

Coldenhoff: Yes, I don’t want that, I don’t wish anyone to miss such a race due to injury. I am a proud Dutch and races like this, definitely one of my favourites, like a home GP, the full country behind you and I have done great at Matterley.

MXLarge: You have won there, right?

Coldenhoff: Yes, I won my first GP there in the MX2 class, so if they need me, I am there and if not I will go on holidays with my partner and child.

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