Rockstar Suzuki Europe star Glenn Coldenhoff is determined that his recent knee injury will not mean the end of his MX2 Grand Prix career.
The Dutchman, who has a contract with Suzuki to move into the MXGP class for 2015 – which he’s obliged to do according to the age rules – is recovering from a lateral ligament rupture and medial compression fracture of the left knee joint.
Coldenhoff has initially been given a 12 week rehab period until he is able to resume training which could allow him to climb back on the works RM-Z250 before he has to start thinking about the 450.
“I’ve stopped taking painkillers two days ago and now I’m just waiting for some test results before I can start working fully with my doctor here in Holland,” he said. “I had the operation in Stuttgart but it is not so easy to travel there all the time for check-ups so I am sending reports to the doctor there that did the operation.”
“I am just waiting for some exercise equipment from Ortema actually so a timetable for the rehab and recovery is definitely in place,” he added. “I am told it will be around twelve weeks for the bone and the ligament to heal so I should be able to run, cycle and do everything normally by mid-July, if everything goes to plan.”
Coldenhoff gave the factory and the German team their first podium results since Ken Roczen in 2011 with trophies in Thailand, Brazil and Italy and at one stage was two points away from the red plate as series leader.
He sustained the injury after landing awkwardly while training for his home Grand Prix almost two weeks ago at Honda Park in Belgium. Although the surgical procedure was hefty #259 is hopeful that his misfortune will not be a gloomy final word on his MX2 career in 2014. “I have my sights set on the last GPs in Brazil and Mexico in September,” he states. “I want to be back and going straight for the podium. Hopefully also in contention for the Motocross of Nations. That’s what I am working for.”
