CELEBRATION AT ARNHEM

I have said it in the past, but for me, this weekends MXGP of The Netherlands might turn out to be the best Grand Prix of the season, with so many interesting aspects. Of course, the battle for both the MXGP and MX2 championships are exciting enough, but there is so much more to this weekend, than just the championships.

Defending MX2 champion, Kay de Wolf of the Nestaan Husqvarna factory team was making good ground on series leader, Simon Langenfelder of the Red Bull KTM factory team in the championship points, until Langenfelder won in Sweden last weekend and the points lead by the German is now 40 points, with four rounds remaining in Holland, Turkey, China and Australia.

It should be pointed out, that in sand races so far this year, de Wolf has outscored Langenfelder on nearly every occasion and won seven of the eight Sunday motos in the sand, so the Husky rider enters this weekend with a lot of confidence and will hope to get closer to Langenfelder in the championship points.

While the large Dutch crowd will be looking to celebrate a Dutch victory in MX2, it is of course, the MXGP class where many will be watching. The rider many say is the greatest sand rider of all time, Jeffrey Herlings will be trying to defend his MXGP victory at Arnhem in 2024 and also (if rumours are correct), heading to his home Grand Prix for a final time on the KTM machine.

With his current KTM contacts ending this year, all the rumours have Herlings changing brands for 2026 and a final GP at home, on the orange machine will be a huge affair. We all remember Herlings winning the Valkenswaard Grand Prix on eight occasions on his trusty KTM and if this is his final season with the Austrian brand, then what a way to end it at home, with a Grand Prix victory.

It isn’t just the Herlings/KTM situation that brings some emotion in Arnhem, as Glenn Coldenhoff, has also mentioned this might be his final home Grand Prix, as he considers retirement. The always friendly and likeable Dutchman, at 34 years of age is looking at possibly ending his career at the end of 2025, and a final goodbye in Arnhem would be something very special.

“They (Fantic) want me to stay,” Coldenhoff told NOS media in The Netherlands. “There needs to be a good structure in place and spots with good teams are running out, and then quitting becomes a reality. Look, I can always find somewhere to ride, that's not the issue, but I'm not going to just muddle along. I'm either going for it, or I'm stopping. Maybe I'll ride my last Grand Prix in the Netherlands on Sunday. If that's the case, then so be it.”

Always popular at his home Grand Prix, we might even see Coldenhoff getting more support than de Wolf and Herlings, but whatever happens, you just know the always supportive Dutch fans will be celebrating something come Sunday night.

Add the names of Calvin Vlaanderen, Rick Elzinga, Brian Bogers and of course a long list of Dutch women, the Dutch flags, horns and support make this GP a very exciting one and one that hopefully, can be celebrated with victories.

Photo credit: KTM