Rick Elzinga of the Van Venrooy KTM Racing Team has undergone surgery shortly after the conclusion of the MXGP season to have the screws removed from his kneecap. During the same procedure, an old plate was also removed from his collarbone. According to Elzinga, the screws in his knee caused pain and limitations throughout the entire season, preventing him from ever riding completely freely. The Dutchman is now fully focused on his recovery and preparations for 2027.
Elzinga suffered a knee injury last winter, after which screws were inserted into his kneecap during surgery. From the beginning of the season, the MXGP rider already felt that they were causing problems.
Sharp pain, continuous inflammation in the knee and an inability to properly use his left leg while in a crouched position made it impossible for Elzinga to move normally on the bike. As a result, he increasingly compensated with his right leg and became unbalanced on the bike.
Despite multiple visits to doctors throughout the season, the exact cause remained unclear for a long time. It was only after the Dutch Grand Prix in Arnhem that it became clear what was causing the problems. The screws in question have now been removed.
Elzinga looks back on a physically and mentally extremely difficult season, during which he says he was never able to ride the way he normally does.
Rick Elzinga: “The screws in my kneecap have been removed! During the same surgery, an old plate was also removed from my collarbone. The screws limited me throughout the entire season and turned every race into a battle. Not only against my competitors, but also against my own body. The fact that I couldn’t ride freely or perform the way I normally do made this an incredibly difficult year, both physically and mentally. From the beginning, I felt that the problem was caused by the screws that had been inserted following my injury last winter. I had sharp pain, continuous inflammation in my knee and I couldn’t properly use my left leg at all while in a crouched position. As a result, I started compensating and mainly riding with my right leg. I was unbalanced and not in harmony with my bike. It was only after the Dutch Grand Prix, and after multiple visits to doctors throughout the season to determine the cause of the problem, that the doctors finally discovered exactly what was wrong. The problem has finally been acknowledged and resolved.”
Following the surgery, the focus now shifts completely to recovery. Elzinga wants to carefully rebuild his knee and regain full strength in his left leg before getting back on the bike.
“My priority now is to rebuild my knee properly, regain my full strength and return to the level I know I am capable of. Now it’s time to recover, rebuild and come back stronger. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who stood behind me this season: my family, my team, my sponsors and my fans. Thank you.”
Photocredits – Juan Pablo Acevedo
