Herlings and Mantova

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Jeffrey Herlings, despite his crash riddled Trentino experience and being third in the championship points could easily be considered the favourite for this weekend’s Mantova round of the 2021 MXGP championship.

The four-time Motocross World Champion loves the sand and is considered the best sand rider in the World. Add to that his 1-1 performance at 2021 Monster Energy FIM Motocross of Nations and you know that “The Bullet” will be on top form this weekend.

As for why he sits in third place and not first, Herlings sees a lot of bad luck and disappointment from the odd race this year.

“I missed four races,” Herlings said. “Three because somebody ran over my back in Oss and one in Trentino because somebody ran over my bike. It is a shame, because I was feeling good, and it is tough. We keep working hard and I am healthy. I am still super motivated. I mean, it will be mad with the three of us. I had one race to play with and so much stress, but you can’t plan anything. Who would have thought that I would go from plus 24 to down three?”.

As for what he expects in future races in 2021, the start is the key and Herlings will be looking for good starts in Mantova and hopefully controlling the race from the front.

“You know, when I have control over the race, I am in my comfort zone. You know, I can easily accept a second or third at this point, because four or five years ago I would get crazy in my head if I didn’t get the race or GP win. In Spain for instance, I was thinking a fourth or a third will be it. When I feel like I can win, I will try, but if I don’t think I can do it, then I won’t even try. Trentino 1 and 2 was really tough, in that second race of the first round in Trentino I thought third or fourth might be the best I can do, but then I was in fourth quickly and Tim and I were closing up the gap to Glenn and Romain. Then it was like, okay, I have a chance to win.”

A major part of Herlings team is good friend and right-hand man Ruben Tureluren. The Belgian feels that his good friend will use all his experience to fight back to the front of the championship points.

“Again, “Tureluren said. “All these years of experience and what he went through brought him to where he is today. I think this situation is good for him, because he is super focused, and he needs to push every race. It makes him better. In that opening in Trentino, he showed beast mode, just like he can. Remember Faenza last year, I was so pumped when he won the first Faenza and then two days later you are down on the ground. We need to stay focused, and he is focused, and I believe we deserve this championship.”

And now, in two days’ time, Herlings gets another shot at winning a sand GP. Surprisingly, until now he has been beaten in two of the sand races, in Lommel by Romain Febvre and Kegums by Tim Gajser. Herlings though won the last one in Sardinia and as we mentioned the MXoN in Mantova. Whatever happens in Mantova this weekend, you can be sure that the Dutchman will be focused on the day and not the championship.

Photo Copyright: Ray Archer