Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings might not have won the Czech Republic Grand Prix last weekend, instead finishing in third place overall, but this was another one of those days when we remember why Herlings is so special to our sport.
Having won the opening moto and looking very confident, the Dutchman had a poor start in moto two, worked his way to around seventh place on the second corner, but then connected with another rider and went down. He remounted in last position, got going, and within a lap was already up to 13th place, in a field of 40, but his rollercoaster race wasn’t over, as he hit the back wheel of Andrea Bonacorsi as he tried to pass him and went down again. Again losing spots, he found himself in 16th place with more ground to make up on the leaders.
He quickly started passing riders and was into seventh place on lap five, passing three riders within a couple of corners. Ahead of him were two of the best at the Loket circuit, Jeremy Seewer and Romain Febvre, and within a few laps he had also dispatched those two to move into fifth place.
At one point Herlings was something like 30 seconds behind the leader, and as he clicked off the best lap times of the race, he got as close as ten seconds at the end. He nearly passed third placed man Calvin Vlaanderen, but just ran out of time and energy.
Despite a 1-4 result, you could easily argue that this was one of his best performances since his sensational 2021 championship winning season, and while he still has a near impossible goal of reaching Gajser for the championship lead, after today, you have to believe anything is possible. When we interviewed Herlings after his victory in Lombok II, we asked if he could get on a roll, and he told us, if he can win Loket, then it's very possible. He didn't win in the Czech Republic, but he is without doubt, on a Herlings roll.
MXLarge: Tell us about your weekend.
Jeffrey Herlings: I felt like my old self from a few years ago today. I am still improving, and these kinds of tracks are not easy for me. I went from fifth to first in the first moto and wanted to make another statement in the second, but I messed up; maybe a bit too much confidence. From dead last to 13th and then I hit someone’s rear wheel and had to do it again. Speed was good, fitness was good, but luck was not on my side today. So, not great, not bad, and to win my 200th moto was pretty special. Nobody else has reached that amount. Still seven races to go and I’m looking forward to the next one.
Tell us about that second moto, because your speed and fitness were incredible. Tell us about that please.
I had a bad start into the first turn, and I was still fifth or sixth, then I hit the back of somebody’s wheel and I was last, and I got back to like 15th or 16th. Then Bonacorsi high sided or something and I hit his rear wheel. Crashed again and was almost last again. I fought my way back to the rear wheel of [Calvin] Vlaanderen and almost had him. Speed was good, fitness was good, but luck wasn’t on my side today. At least the speed, I feel like my old self, like in 2021 or 2018. It is late in the championship and today again we lost points (to Gajser). There are still a lot of things possible, and I feel I am still improving and for me, this track isn’t easy, but to show this speed and fitness here, is good for me. Still some races to go and I am looking forward to the remainder of the races.
Where is your mind when you are down like that in the second moto?
I was really pissed. It was like 100 degrees. I was so pissed, because I messed up myself. Why did I hit him? But I wanted to get to the front. The first moto I was from fifth to second within a lap and I wanted to do the second thing in the second moto and make a statement, but maybe too much confidence again and it can bite. It is what it is, 1-4, not great, not bad. Let’s move onto Lommel next weekend.
I guess you feel lucky to come out from this track without injuries. You left here in 2018 winning the first moto and then started winning the first one this year, which is a good thing?
Yes, that is true and like I said, I have 200 moto wins, a record nobody can reach, and I have missed maybe two or three seasons in total, due to injuries. 2022, a full year out, 2023 half a year out. That is also why at the beginning of the year I was a bit off, because, it takes time to get the race rhythm. Also, Tim took a few races to get going [due to being out all of 2023], also Jorge when he was injured, it took him time to come back and it takes time to come back from a major injury. I am looking forward to the rest of the races. Last week I did a sand race [ADAC Masters he went 1-1-1] and I showed good potential. Our bike is in a good spot, and I showed good speed in Germany in the deep sand and the bike was really good. I need two decent starts and to be with the guys next to me and see where we get.
The speed in that second moto, maybe due to the two crashes and a speed you were reaching for. You were really doing something at another level to everyone else, passing so many riders, so quickly.
I think I made like 50 passes, some twice [due to the two crashes]. I actually felt in good control and when you are racing guys in P15 at that speed, it can bite you. I still felt I could go top three, and I almost went top three and that would have kept my overall alive.
