MX2 in Brazil – The Herlings Factor

Every leading rider in the FIM MX2 World Championship just got a little bit more excited about the Brazilian Grand Prix. While the news that Jeffrey Herlings is out of the Grand Prix of Brazil isn’t good, and nobody wants to see the defending World MX2 Champion miss a race through injury, the news does make the MX2 class in Brazil very interesting indeed.

Herlings, who has had a terrible run of late, first having a devastating winter with no riding due to injuries, then struggling at the first two rounds of the FIM MX2 World Championship in Qatar and Thailand. It didn’t get any better though as the Red Bull KTM Factory rider spent a week in bed with a virus from Thailand, then crashing in practice for the second round of the Dutch MX2 Championship and injuring his shoulder.

Now the news that he is out of the third round of the 2014 GP season, meaning he could drop as much as 50 points on his rivals and seems sure to lose the red plate he has owned now for so long.

Herlings was quick to point out that he will fight back from this current situation and for sure the rider with the most GP wins in the history off the MX2/125cc class will come back stronger than ever.

“It doesn’t matter how bad things get,” Herlings said. “You just have to BELIEVE. And don’t let negativity take u down. I keep on hoping. I don’t give up that quick.”

What will be interesting now though is which rider from the MX2 class will put their hand up and say, “I am the new man”. So many of this young breed are on fire at the moment. Will it be another Dutchman in Glenn Coldenhoff, the rider who is leading the Dutch MX2 series and is showing great form. Arnaud Tonus who won the overall at the French Motocross Championships last weekend is also a rider who might step up and win a GP in 2014, or the other Frenchman Dylan Ferrandis, the surprise of the 2014 season so far could also get his first GP win ever.

What about English rider Max Anstie who has shown huge signs of improvement this season, or the other Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jordi Tixier? Tixier has lacked the killer instinct compared to the previously mentioned riders, but has the talent to win a Grand Prix in Brazil. Jose Butron who has always enjoyed his trips to Brazil is also a chance, or maybe the two Husqvarna Factory riders Romain Febvre and Alexandr Tonkov.

Whatever happens in Brazil this coming weekend, you can be sure Herlings will be keeping an eye on the results and hopefully he can make the return in Italy for round four and continue his quest for a third straight MX2 title.

Author:

Geoff Meyer