Herlings - The Magnificent Seven

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Jeffrey Herlings has proven time and time again in the last two years, that when it comes to who is the fastest rider in the World, he stands alone. Race or GP losses to Clement Desalle, Antonio Cairoli and Eli Tomac in the last 18 months, have not done anything to take away his claim as the fastest man on the planet. Even in 2017, without a World Championship, he proved speed wise, he was unbeatable, once recovered from injuries.

Herlings knows that when it comes to all out speed, it’s hard to beat him, his 2017 and 2018 brilliance has continued a domination that might see him one day called the greatest of all time.

As for his goal for 2019, it is to join the magnificent seven riders, who have won five or more World Motocross titles. A list of riders that are edged into the folk-lore of motocross.

“I feel like the European riders have really developed throughout the years,” Herlings said. “I have proven I have beaten the reigning World Champion, Antonio Cairoli, I have won 17 of the 19 races I attended, and the Monster Energy FIM MXoN was the only chance I had to race the American national champion (Eli Tomac) and I beat him three times, Saturday and Sunday. So if you look at the outdoors, I was the fastest. Even if you look at 2017, I raced Tomac in five races and I beat him four out of the five, and now three out of three in 2018. I beat all the top guys from the US, Barcia and Roczen and I have beaten all the Europeans all year long. So I felt I could post that with the results, but hey, in a few days it starts all over again with 2019, and it will be interesting.”

As for improvement for 2019, that is going to be a tough job, and Herlings knows better than anyone that winning won’t come easy this year.

“I feel like in 2018,” Herlings said. “I did almost everything right, apart from breaking my collarbone, but it is hard to say. I try to keep improving, but it isn’t always easy, and the season I had in 2018, it’s going to be hard to beat that. So to get better is another chapter, and you never know, some people say you are at your best between 25 and 30. I will just take it from year to year.”

With just a month before the pre-season races beginning in Europe, you can be sure when Herlings arrives at the opening round of the 2019 FIM Motocross World Championship in Patagonia, he will be more than ready to defend his championship and go for World Title number five, something only done by seven other men. Stefan Everts with 10, Antonio Cairoli with nine, Joel Robert with six, and Roger De Coster, Joel Smets, Georges Jobe and Eric Geboers with five each.

Photo: Ray Archer