Jeffrey Herlings: Heading Home

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider and four-time World Motocross Champion Jeffrey Herlings didn’t wait long before he returned to the top of an MXGP podium with his victory last weekend at the Maggiora circuit in Italy.

Having started the season slow in terms of what the Dutchman usually delivers, but his win at the famous circuit showed glimpses of his best speed and that is worrisome for his rivals, heading into a cluster of sand races over the next month.

Herlings 4-2-3-4-6-1 results have seen him on the podium in all three rounds so far and he had mentioned after the Grand Prix of Great Britain, that his goal was to be on the podium every weekend.

“That is the goal to be consistent and, on the box, as often as possible,” Herlings said. “I started (the season) unlucky but it’s all good heading into Oss in two weeks’ time. I think we are just 6 points behind. Still a lot of races in the championship so I won’t really look at the points because in the past I was counting, counting, counting, and sometimes I was over 150 points up front and I still didn’t win the championship, so I don’t count anymore.”

That mental capacity will be tested time and time again in 2021 as Herlings is known for his desire to win and win as often as possible, but maybe this new version of the KTM rider will see him pick up his fifth World championship.

“I just look race by race. I look at every race individually and try to be the best I can every single weekend. Definitely looking forward to Oss and I hope they leave it rough from Saturday. We have a lot of rain last week and also this week coming up, so hopefully the weather will be good, and it will get rough, and the ground will get rough. I am looking forward to riding at home in Oss.”

There is no doubt that Herlings won’t have it all his own way in Oss, as a handful of the leading MXGP riders also love the sand, as current red plate owner Tim Gajser of the HRC team showed at the Valkenswaard circuit in Holland last year, when he passed and ran away from Herlings at the circuit it seemed the Dutchman was nearly unbeatable. Even more amazing was the fact the Slovenian came from gate 33 after a bike problem in qualification on the Saturday.

“I didn’t’ expect him to come from gate pick 33 to be there straight away. I looked back and my eyes nearly fell out of my head. I was like, “Damn it, where did he come from?” Then he passed me straight away and then passed Jorge [Prado] and I couldn’t get past Jorge. I was still in shock and then he was faster than me. He has stepped it up. Especially in the sand if you see where he came from in the sand to where he is now.”

Still, Herlings will head to Oss as the favourite to win the Grand Prix, and maybe even take the red plate from the grasps of the defending MXGP champion.

Photo Copyright: Ray Archer