There is no denying, Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass are showing early signs of domination. Between the two Red Bull KTM Factory riders, they have gone 2-1-1-1-1-1-1-1 for the opening two rounds in Neuquen and Valkenswaard.
Both own the red plates in MXGP and MX2, and both go to Redsand in Spain this weekend with a lot of experience around the sandy, Spanish track.
For Herlings, beating Antonio Cairoli, the defending champion straight up in both rounds one and two means a lot, but it is still just two rounds of a massive 19 round series.
“It is just two rounds in,” Herlings said. “Tony is a big champion and an icon in our sport, so we can’t write him off, because he might find the speed I have at the moment. Until now I am faster on pure speed, but that isn’t a guarantee that I am faster in the next few rounds. For now, we want to work on our starts, we have already made a big improvement, but still trying things and new parts to improve it. As a rider and team, we are still working and once I am top three in the start on a regular basis, that will be a big advantage for myself. The tracks we have so far have been easy to pass, but in tracks like Pietramurata, you start 15th or 10th, it’s hard to still win the race and we will work on that and I am sure we can improve it.”
“Red Sand is like Latvia actually, it really depends on how they work on the track. If they rip it and work on it, it’s like a real sand track, if it’s windy and they don’t water it so much, it can get like hard pack. Depends on how they work on it. I have ridden it in all conditions.”
Jonass still can’t believe his start to 2018, and he is looking at staying on top and fighting off his competition as they move to Spain this weekend.
“I wasn’t expecting it, but that was my goal, to be at the top. Last year I was consistent, and always around top five, but I wasn’t the top guy who goes 1-1-1-1. This is something I worked on, to be the guy to beat. So far it goes well, but the season is long, and I don’t want to get too confident or too high, you could say. Keep working hard, that is important.”
“I rode at Red Sand for a week, so maybe five times, maximum. I know, racing at a track, and practicing at a track, it’s really two different things. The feeling is different and there also the banners next to the track so it really feels like a different track. It’s a really nice circuit, it’s fast and wide and when it gets bumpy, it will get heavy and really rough, and you need to be really fit to do two races. It won’t be an easy weekend, but it’s a nice track for racing.”
So, can the two KTM men continue their run-in round three this coming weekend, or will it be another rider who steals the limelight?
Copyright: Photo: Ray Archer
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