Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe’s Glenn Coldenhoff rode to a decent seventh position in a sweltering Qualification Heat for the Grand Prix of Lombardia at Mantova today.
The 15th round of 18 in the FIM Motocross World Championship, however, did not start positively for Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MXGP’s Kevin Strijbos: The Belgian landed awkwardly from a jump in Timed Practice and aggravated his right thumb that affected his outing in the Heat sprint and he managed 14th on the RM-Z450.
Strijbos was counting the odds after failing to clear the triple on a fast lap around the flat and sandy course. The impact caused brief pain in his right hand but more importantly it left the 29 year old without strength and sensation in the thumb that he injured earlier in the season. Carrying this handicap, Strijbos attempted the 20-minute qualification race but was clearly unable to push his speed to a satisfactory level. After seeking medical advice he later left the Mantova facility for further scans and examination at the local hospital.
Coldenhoff had a busy race in the mid-top-10, and after a feisty pass on Jose Butron was able to win the seventh pick of positions for tomorrow.
In MX2 there was positive news for Rockstar Energy Suzuki Europe riders Jeremy Seewer and Brian Hsu. Seewer aced the holeshot on his RM-Z250 and took a season-best third position after running close with Max Anstie and fellow Swiss Valentin Guillod. Hsu, making his Grand Prix debut after some impressive performances and speed on the RM-Z250 in the EMX250 European Championship started brightly and rode a steady pace to take an eye-catching eighth spot.
Kevin Strijbos:
“I don't know what happened but I didn't make the triple and was too far over the landing of the double. My hand felt the impact but I didn't think much more of it. It was only when I stopped that I couldn’t move my thumb upwards and it felt totally numb. I was told it might be nerve damage. I will get it checked-out again because I want to make sure it is nothing serious.”
MXGP Qualification Heat: 1. Maximilian Nagl (GER, Husqvarna), 24:29.839; 2. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Honda), +0:02.852; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:05.589; 4. Christophe Charlier (FRA, Honda), +0:13.961; 5. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, Honda), +0:20.192; 6. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Honda), +0:21.970; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:23.200; 8. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), +0:32.470; 9. Steven Frossard (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:33.624; 10. Dean Ferris (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:37.328; 11. Tyla Rattray (RSA, Kawasaki), +0:38.718; 12. Todd Waters (AUS, Husqvarna), +0:40.275; 13. Davide Guarneri (ITA, TM), +0:44.412; 14. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Rockstar Energy Suzuki), +0:52.648.
