Dutch Interest

The Grand Prix of Europe, set for the famous Dutch circuit of Valkenswaard this weekend will have a massive participation from the local riders.

The Dutch crowd will really have something to cheer about this year with one of the strongest field of Dutch riders in some time. While Holland is known as a country with a lot of motocross heritage victories have fallen mainly on the shoulder of Jeffrey Herlings in recent years, with some support from Glenn Coldenhoff.

Last year’s EMX250 championship win by Nick Kouwenberg, plus the improvement of Davy Pootjes gives the Dutch a strong look in 2016.

Herlings of course will once again lead the parade, and with a couple of history making moment, it is expected even the often quiet Dutch might make some noise.

“It’s no secret I have a good feeling at Valkenswaard,” Herlings said recently. “I have won there on six occasions and will be going for number seven this year. Also a chance for my 50^th Grand Prix victory. Valkenswaard is close to my home, and there are always a lot of public, so I think this year will once again be a great weekend.”

Despite winning the EMX250 championship Kouwenberg missed out on something he dearly wanted in 2015, a win in Valkenswaard. He will want to return to Valkenswaard this year, and take that victory. Last year it didn’t go to plan around the Dutch facility.

“Valkenswaard I wanted to win, but I had a small crash and we had problems with the suspension, so it didn’t work out for the win and we made second place. I made a nice pass in the last lap to go from third to second and that is what I most remember. I wanted so badly to win.”

Kouwenberg will have a lot of company from his fellow countrymen, with around 15 Dutch riders racing in the EMX250 class in Valkenswaard. A similar number of local riders will race in the EMX300 class.

Coldenhoff who picked up a minor injury in Thailand, which mean he had to miss the opening round of his National championship will come into Valkenswaard as a bit of a question mark. Last year he finished in ninth place overall, and in 2014 didn’t even race his home event.

Pootjes is a similar situation, having injured himself in Qatar, the younger Red Bull KTM Factory rider is good in the sand, and might just surprise a lot of people in the MX2 class.

PHOTO: KTM