For the 20th and final round of the season, the 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship made its debut at a brand-new venue in Cózar, Spain. Glenn Coldenhoff showcased his consistency by finishing eighth overall at the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha.
Cózar attracted a considerable crowd for the inaugural MXGP of Castilla La Mancha, creating a fantastic atmosphere throughout the GP weekend, marking the third event of the season on Spanish soil. It took Glenn Coldenhoff and Brian Bogers some time to adapt to the new layout, as the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders missed the top 10 in time practice, lining up in 11th and 14th for the season’s final qualifying race. Starts proved crucial, as the hardpack track made overtaking difficult, especially with the warm weather drying out the stony surface. Coldenhoff secured eighth place in the qualifying heat with a steady ride, holding his position for the whole moto, while Bogers battled his way to 13th.
In race 1 on Sunday, both the Fantic Factory Racing MXGP riders had to fight back after challenging starts. Coldenhoff dug deep to gain some ground but had to be content with 11th. Bogers battled it out in the midfield and crossed the line in 14th. In race 2, “The Hoff” got off to a much stronger start aboard his Fantic XXF 450, quickly moving into seventh on the first lap. Although he rode well and showed improved feeling on a tricky track, he couldn’t advance further, with the riders just in front of him protecting their line and not making any mistakes. His 11-7 score placed Coldenhoff eighth overall for the day. Bogers, unfortunately, suffered a hard crash early in the race. Luckily, he escaped any injury, but he was forced to retire.
In the final championship standings, Glenn Coldenhoff confirmed his place among the top MXGP riders, securing a strong sixth place. Bogers narrowly missed the top 10 in eleventh place, despite not lining up in the first two rounds and being unable to compete in the Indonesian double-header. This made it a promising first year back in the premier class of Motocross for Fantic.
The season is not over yet. Next weekend, Coldenhoff will line up on his Fantic XXF 450 at the most prestigious event of the year in Matterley Basin, Great Britain, representing Team Netherlands at the 77th edition of the Motocross of Nations.
Glenn Coldenhoff:
“The weekend started off difficult. I struggled out there, didn’t feel like myself, and rode way too tight. It got a bit better in the qualifying heat after we made some changes to the suspension, which worked out pretty well. Sunday’s motos were quite similar. In the first race, I had a bad start, I was far back and tried to catch up, but the track was really one line, making it tough to pass. My start was a bit better in the second moto and I made a few passes early on, but then I spent the entire race stuck behind Guillod. 11-7 for eighth overall – this is still not where I want to be. I am disappointed with the result, but at least we improved over the weekend. My riding wasn’t bad, but the results don’t reflect that. We have one more race weekend to go, and I am really motivated for the Motocross of Nations. I hope to finish the season strong and will give it my all to get on the box with Team Netherlands.”
Brian Bogers:
“It wasn’t the end of the season we had hoped for. I struggled at the start of race 1, and then had a big crash in race 2. It is a shame to finish like this and lose a position in the championship standings, but overall, I am quite happy with the season. I am looking forward to improving together with the team this winter and coming back stronger next year. We want to bounce back!”
