Team Netherlands have named a four-rider line-up for the 2019 MXoN and the Dutch federation will narrow down their Motocross of Nations squad as they get closer to the Assen event.
The Team NL line-up is Jeffrey Herlings, Glenn Coldenhoff, Calvin Vlaanderen and Roan van de Moosdijk ā it’s an impressive and enviable squad, whichever three they run with for their home soil ‘Nations event on September 28/29.
Team manager Patrice Assendelft explains his selection. “With Jeffrey Herlings and Glenn Coldenhoff, we have two world-class athletes who compete in the MXGP world championship. Herlings has only ridden two GPs this year due to injuries but managed to win immediately. He will be fit for the MX of Nations.
“And with Coldenhoff we have another rider in the toughest class who can take part in the win,ā Assendelft is convinced of that. “Just like Herlings, Calvin Vlaanderen, who competes in the MX2 class, also had a season with a lot of injuries. But during the past races, Calvin has shown that he is among the best in the world.”
The biggest surprise in the selection is Roan van de Moosdijk. The 18-year-old from Eindhoven competes in the European championship, where he is currently the EMX250 series leader. “Roan is a great talent who has made huge strides this season. During the final of the Dutch Masters, the strongest championship after the world championship, he managed to win in an inimitable way. He was faster there than many riders who usually end up in the world series.”
Because the level of the four riders in Team NL is so high, Assendelft has decided not to make a final choice just yet. “Vlaanderen and Van de Moosdijk are both world-class riders. They hardly miss each other, “says Assendelft. “A number of internship days in the deep sand are still planned, in which we will continue to use the same riding schedules as during the MXoN. At the end of that preparation, we as a team make the decision as to who will drive. This approach has been agreed in full agreement with the drivers.”
For Team NL, the MXoN on the TT Circuit means a home race. A cross-track with numerous spectacular slopes is being constructed on the racing circuit. “It’s not a permanent circuit, so nobody knows it. That is not an advantage for us. But with 50,000 Orange fans in the stands, our riders will be able to give something extra.”
Last year the Netherlands delivered a fantastic performance during the MXoN in the United States, with Jeffrey Herlings, Glenn Coldenhoff and Calvin Vlaanderen by finishing second.
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