Exclusive interview with The Hoff!
We are two GPs away and both Red Bull KTM riders have already won podium trophies. Tony Cairoli dominated the opening race at Losail in Qatar and Glenn Coldenhoff finished second in the Indonesian mud. Coldenhoff is already off to an excellent start, in his second season as a KTM factory rider. We spoke to him just before the GP of Argentina!
Last year you started the season with difficulty, but you were on the podium in Assen. How has that evolution gone until now?
Glenn Coldenhoff: "It was quite difficult for me in the beginning. The engine was incredibly powerful, I really enjoyed it during training. I had a hard time during competitions. The engine was not smooth enough, we could not immediately change that. The power of the mid-to-top range on the KTM 450 SX-F was really crazy. So strong! We then made step-by-step improvements to better tailor the bike to my style. We also made progress during the winter. As a result, I started the season with a lot of confidence in the bike.”
How did that puzzle finally come together to get the engine right?
Coldenhoff: “During the preseason, Tony (Cairoli) got hurt last year. This put me in a special situation with a new team and a lot of testing to do. Actually, we didn't have enough basic information to work with. Certainly not compared to this year, because we also still have Jeffrey [Herlings] on the 450. This means that our knowledge about the engine naturally continues to grow. The fact that some riders are working with WP suspensions also works out well for us. KTM has some good test riders, if they find new things we get them to try them too. WP also made good progress this winter.”
Many people consider Red Bull-KTM to be the ultimate factory team. Do you agree with that?
Coldenhoff: "I think so. I really believe in this group of people. They do everything I ask of them. They continue to work all the time. I think you can consider Red Bull-KTM as the reference because they have been at the top for years and this year the line-up is really very strong.”
In the past you often started the season quietly and got stronger as the GPs progressed. Was that something you wanted to work on for 2017?Coldenhoff: “That was also a point of improvement last year. But as I said, everything was new and that made it difficult to have everything ready right away. I have now had a great winter and I gained a lot of confidence from that. Both the engine and the team, the people around me: everything feels good. So there is no reason why I can't be at the front from the first laps.”
What do you gain confidence from, what appears on the results sheet?
Coldenhoff: “Well, you always want to be at the top, of course. But if I have a bad feeling about one race and I finish sixth, that doesn't mean much to me. I prefer to have a good feeling. That is the priority – because with it you can score even higher. The most important thing for me is the feeling on the bike. If I feel good on the bike then I go fast.”
What is it like to see riders with GP podiums or victories to their name even in twentieth place?
Coldenhoff: “To perform you simply have to be at your best in MXGP! I think the level in 2017 is the strongest in a long time. Just look at the participant lists and the results. The men between 3 and 15 can all reach the podium and there is little difference in their lap times. The difference is even more in the little things.”
Besides the 450 SX-F, what else are you excited about in this team? Coldenhoff: “The Italian food is always good! I love also the way in which work is done here. They are really relaxed and there is no stress. They take things as they come, while I used to plan everything very well. Maybe too much even. To enjoy what you do is a positive thing. It also helped calm me down a bit.”
Good luck in Neuquen and enjoy that great job there.
Coldenhoff: “Thanks, we will!”
Tekst: Adam Wheeler
Photos: Ray Archer
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