Rockstar Suzuki’s Glenn Coldenhoff is hoping for a little home advantage in this weekend’s Assen GP…
The 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship will make a final stop on European dirt this weekend with the Grand Prix of the Netherlands taking place at the fabled road racing facility of Assen.
For Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff it will represent his second home event of the season and although the temporary course – that is being constructed over parts of the asphalt – is a new build, the expected sandy terrain should be another happy hunting ground for the 24 year old.
Coldenhoff is the sole factory-supported RM-Z450 runner in the MXGP class after injuries to Clement Desalle and Kevin Strijbos have counted the Belgian duo out of action for the remainder of the year. Desalle is recovering from right shoulder surgery and Strijbos had a procedure earlier this week to repair a snapped right thumb ligament. Neither athlete will return to the track this year. Coldenhoff has won a Grand Prix already in 2015 and took a solid sixth position in the hard-pack sand of Mantova in Italy last weekend. The Dutchman is currently fulfilling his aim of a top-10 finish for the season by holding ninth place in the MXGP standings in what is his first attempt in the premier category.
“It is not such a big deal as I will be focusing on my usual thing and won’t be feeling any extra pressure,” he said referring to his ‘lone’ status for Suzuki. “All I can do is give my best and hope I find the same feeling as I did in Mantova. Of course I love to be in front of my home crowd and I think there will be many spectators but I will try to treat it as ‘another race.’ I don’t know what to expect at Assen in terms of the track but the way I am riding at the moment I am ready for whatever is coming.”
Assen steps into the MXGP sphere for the first time with the 16th round of 18 in the 2015 schedule. The area boasts a rich motorcycle racing history that stretches back almost a century but the current circuit has been in use since 1955 meaning the motocross Grand Prix takes place in a 60th anniversary year. Importing sand into the complex – some 25,000 cubic metres according to promoters Youthstream – has allowed Assen staff to form a layout covering part of the famous turns 19, 20, 21 chicane and the start straight.
