Roan van de Moosdijk ready for Ottobiano!
The fifth round of the EMX250 championship will be held in Ottobiano. It will be a long-awaited debut for Roan van de Moostijk (ASTES4-TESAR Yamaha Official EMX Team). The 16-year-old Eindhoven resident broke his ankle at the beginning of April during the ONK in Markelo. Now David Philippaerts' pupil is back!
Van de Moosdijk, last year's junior vice world champion in the 125cc class, had successfully digested the switch to the 250, which he already showed in the preparatory races. During the first round of the Italian championship he finished fifth on the hard Cingoli. In Axel he won a round and came second after Freek van der Vlist. And Roan also proved that the speed was already there on the sand in Oss where he qualified 5th during the Dutch Masters. Bad luck struck in Markelo because Roan didn't even fall. His foot got stuck when he hit a bump, which was pure bad luck...
We are now almost three months after your injury, how are you doing now?
Roan van de Moosdijk: “I resumed motorcycle training on June 1. I was very happy with that, the feeling on the bike was also good straight away. I am really looking forward to my first match in Ottobiano, the team does not have too high expectations there because it is my return after my injury.”
What do you expect from Ottobiano, you also rode well in the Assoluti d'Italia in February?
from the Moosdijk: “It is indeed nice to be able to start on a sandy track. I would still like to finish in the top five. If I succeed, I'll be a happy man, top five in my EMX250 debut and first race after my injury! That's what I'm going for and the speed is there, but we have to take into account that I still have some typical ailments that come with starting over."
Unfortunately, you cannot get into the rhythm faster than the number of training sessions and competitions you can participate in...
from the Moosdijk: “I'm good physically, as well as technically. We know that those sore arms will come when you start driving back. Since the beginning of this month I have ridden very regularly, but of course you cannot be on the motorcycle every day. Because we traveled to Italy a little earlier, I was fortunately able to do some driving here before the weekend started.”
Actually, it's a home race this weekend because you're driving for an Italian team!
from the Moosdijk: “It is indeed a race that we have been looking forward to for a long time, both for myself and for the team. We'll see what happens.”
You also spent a lot of time in Italy this winter?
from the Moosdijk: “That's right, I was there for about 4 or 5 weeks. I also rode a lot in Sardinia. I was there for about a month. Physically it is an excellent training because you have tough sand courts, but you will also find hard courts. When David (ed. Philippaerts) was still driving, he spent a lot of time in Sardinia preparing for the season. Then we took part in the Internazionali MX series, which is a very high level.”
How is your Italian?
from the Moosdijk: “That is rather limited: pasta, spaghetti and some dirty words! laughs).”
How is the collaboration with David Philippaerts going, you also rode in his team last year?
from the Moosdijk: “We have built up a very close bond in one year and the collaboration is very pleasant. Now he is even more of a trainer than before. The merger of the DP19 Racing Yamaha team and SDM Corse has worked out well. Everything has become even more professional!”
What have you learned most from David?
from the Moosdijk: “I learn from his experience in general. What he has learned in life, as a motocross rider but also beyond. He has already taught me so much. Often it's about little things that I hadn't even thought about. Just like now when returning from an injury.”
How did the switch to the 250 four-stroke go?
van de Moosdijk: “Very good actually. In the beginning it is always a bit more difficult, but I picked up everything quickly and the speed was also good. I also immediately had some nice results in the Italian competitions. I didn't immediately expect that. Although I knew the week before that I was not inferior in terms of speed to some MX2 GP riders. Now of course I am not yet at the same level as before my fall.”
It used to be different, but from the MXGP with Herlings and Coldenoff over the MX2 to the EMX, there are currently a lot of strong Dutch riders. How does that feel?
from the Moosdijk: "That's true. If I compare with Karlis Sabulis, one of my teammates, he was already chosen for Latvia for the MXoN! The Netherlands is such a strong country that you have to be world top to be selected for the Nations. So it does provide additional motivation!”
Good luck Roan!
from the Moosdijk: "A thousand thanks!"
Photos: Yamaha Racing,
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