Herlings on Honda vs. KTM

  By Geoff Meyer

When rumors started swirling around the MXGP paddock that Jeffrey Herlings was going to be racing a Honda HRC factory machine in 2026, I think many of us were more than a little excited. HRC has a lot of money invested into the team, not just from Honda, but also team owner Giacomo Gariboldi.

No rider in the last 15 years has given MXGP more exposure than the five-time world motocross champion from The Netherlands. He has had periods in his career where he was, without question, the fastest man on the planet. He is probably the greatest sand rider in the sport’s history and holds the record for most Grand Prix victories (112).

Injury has stopped him from possibly becoming the greatest GP rider of all time, and while his five titles are not a reflection of his true worth, those five championships still place him amongst the likes of Eric Geboers, Joel Smets, Roger De Coster, Georges Jobe and Tim Gajser.

A world championship in 2026 would see him join Joel Robert with six titles, behind only Antonio Cairoli and Stefan Everts.

We gave “The Bullet” a call this morning, as he rested up from a week of long days and major testing. With the HRC technicians flying in from Japan, and the complete Gariboldi team arriving in Spain to make sure Herlings got the most out of the week. Sure enough, 12 hour days were completed, and progress was made. Then Jeffrey allowed MXLarge to do this exclusive interview.

MXLarge: Jeffrey, everyone in the sport is excited for this move to Honda and it’s created a lot of interest for the 2026 season, but how are you feeling about it?
Herlings: It is special. Basically my first contract with KTM was January 1st, 2009, so it was 17 years with KTM. To leave them was quite weird, because I spent almost my entire career with them and maybe for the last two, three, four years, I am changing brands. At the same time, Honda is a special team. Look back in the days of Thorpe, Geboers and in America, Jeff Stanton, Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, a lot of top guys. HRC has some special thing, you know, and I am pleased. We have been testing the last three days, and I have never seen anything like what I have seen in these days. They had like 25 people just there for me. Around 15 Japanese flew in. We had so many things to try and how professional they are, it’s just unbelievable. My career has been long, and I have seen a lot, but nothing like this. We started testing at 8am and we finished when it got dark, so 12-hour days. It’s just next level. I have been racing for KTM, also a good team and super professional, but the way HRC work, with the Japanese, they work very differently compared to the Austrians.

The first video, at the announcement of you signing with Honda, you mentioned you got on the bike, and it felt so different to the KTM. What were the positives and negatives about the bike?
The thing that surprised me the most was the handling. Everyone asks me if I ever tried another bike in my career, just to try a different bike, but I never did, not once. I didn’t test the Honda before I signed. When I signed the contract with Honda, I was injured with my collarbone, so I wasn’t riding for five weeks anyway. The turning of the Honda, it’s unreal. I jumped on the bike, and the track was hardpack and there were little off-chambers and little downhills, and the turning was just amazing. It isn’t like everything is just better, the KTM is also a good bike. The last three months on the KTM, I was riding a production KTM and I just had a kit suspension and some other stuff, but the engine was stock and even the stock engine of the KTM is really good. I think stock bikes, the KTM might have more power, but the handling of the Honda is better for me. Both stock bikes are good, but then I jumped on the HRC, full factory bike, which is very special. I haven’t ridden a factory bike for over three months, because the last factory KTM was that international race at Valkenswaard and since then I have only ridden the stock KTM and when I jumped on the HRC bike, I was surprised by the power. It’s a very good bike.

The production Honda, in the sand, it did look a bit slower than how you normally looked on the KTM. They say that the KTM has a lot of power. How is the Honda in the sand?
Definitely on the stock Honda, I am going to be very honest, the stock KTM had a bit more power and I could feel that in the sand. We had a lot of rain the day before we rode the Honda in the sand and we agreed to ride the stock Honda first, for three or four days, which is what we did. On the hard pack tracks, even though the Honda had a little less power, but the handling is just so good. When I jumped on the HRC bike, the power is similar to the KTM and to be honest, on a 450, it isn’t who had the most power, but how you can use the power better. I obviously saw how KTM worked and that was top level, and the Austrians are quiet aggressive in what they do, it’s like “We tried this today, it’s better, let’s go race with it.” Working with the Japanese, they really want to try it over a period of time, test it some more, before they put it on a race bike. The power of the KTM and Honda is similar, but the delivery of the power is different, let’s say.

  

"The power of the KTM and Honda is similar, but the delivery of the power is different, let’s say." -Jeffrey Herlings@shotbybavo

Is that something you need more time to get used to?
Actually, I got used to the factory bike really quickly. We did the three days of testing, and we really changed it the way I like it. We made three very long days, and there were so many people helping, that we could get the bike like I wanted it in those three days. The last day, yesterday, we rode the sand and when I went home, I was super happy. I was so grateful to everyone that was there and I thanked them all, because we did three days, 12 hours a day and they did a hell of a job. The package I have now is good, so now I start training on the factory bike and before you know it, we start racing again.

Is it amazing that after racing a KTM all you career and in three days, you get the Honda to your liking?
Yep, everyone says the same. The guys from HRC also said they were surprised they made me so happy, so quickly. I told them, I’m happy now, but let’s go racing and we need to see how it is in racing conditions. With KTM, I rode that bike for 17 years and I was a big part of the development. The bike I raced in 2022, I might have already ridden in 2020 in development. The Honda, it’s totally new to me, also the aluminum frame. The motivation of this team, I mean, Tim was in the team a long time and it’s a big change for the team and some fresh wind with me coming in. Everybody is so motivated. Giacomo (Gariboldi) came for 10 days, and I have never seen him even being with Tim for that sort of time. He was at every single practice, from the moment we showed up at the track, until late evening when we got home. Marcus (team manager) was here, everyone from the team was here. Once we got the bike how I liked it, we did a moto at like six in the evening and everyone stayed for that. There were 25 guys from Honda around the track, applauding me while I did the moto, it was unreal how motivated and exciting everyone was. Every single lap I did the moto, everyone was applauding and calling out to me, it was really special to feel that excitement.

"There were 25 guys from Honda around the track, applauding me while I did the moto, it was unreal how motivated and exciting everyone was." Jeffrey Herlings@shotbybavo

Obviously you are now wearing Fox gear, and you rode your whole career on Alpinestars. I can imagine it was hard to leave them and now you have to also get used to new boots, helmets, clothing.
Yes, we did (have to do a lot). Same as with the bike, so I couldn’t try anything from Fox until January 1. We more or less started at 7 a.m., to get everyone done for the press release on the 1st. KTM and I parted ways in good terms, and I wanted to respect the contract. The helmet, I have been with Airoh since 2009 and my relationship with Alpinestars was also a really good one, to stop with both those companies was a big thing. Fox is a nice brand, and it was a big change. Pants, jersey and gloves is easy to transition to, but the boots and helmet was kind of a thing, to get that all set-ups. Kenny (Day), the Fox Global sports Marketing Manager flew in; he was here from the 1st until the 6th of January. He brought like five or six bags, just in material, to get me comfortable. All kinds of sizes, all kinds of material to get me comfortable.

I noticed the signs for no video and no photography during your testing and training. Why was that?
Obviously, the 2027 bike is like a prototype, so it’s not for sale. Ruben Ferandez used it from Loket onwards. The parts they have, they’re very special and I cannot say much about the parts, but I can give you one example. The footpegs are melded from one piece and are worth like 5000 Euro. The total HRC bike is so special, and the pieces are so limited. We rented the tracks, but they didn’t want anyone taking close up pictures or video when we would change parts. I did put some videos up, on my social media, but you couldn’t see much from those videos. They just don’t want photos when the fuel tank is off and the engine is open. That was also the same with KTM, when I rode for them.

You have often had trouble with starts and the Honda is known as a holeshot king, with the Lawrence brothers and Tim was also a good starter. Did you feel you got some good work done in that area?
I mean, it is difficult to tell, when you do starts alone, but my feeling is, the starts I did with the Honda were unreal. I don’t want to say it’s all great, because then I could show up at the race and I am not taking holehots. Everyone will be like, “Oh, Herlings said in January it was all good!” But my first feeling, yes, it’s unbelievable. At the same time, Lucas Coenen, Jorge Prado, Antonio Cairoli, they all won the Fox holeshot awards on a KTM. Maybe I couldn’t get out of the starts, because the bike wasn’t set up right for me. I don’t know, but my feeling on the Honda, I will potentially get better starts, but the real test is when 39 other guys are also on the start. Let’s wait and see.

What is the process now leading into Argentina, will you now go training with other riders, what races will you do leading into the opening round in Argentina?
I had been riding in Spain with the KTM and just went home for Christmas, then I started riding the Honda on January 1 and we plan to just keep training here in Spain, and we have another test planned with HRC at the end of the month. We should race Mantova on February 8. That wasn’t my plan, but the team requested I do Mantova, and then a week later it’s Hawkstone Park and then I will do Lierop the weekend before Argentina. That is pretty much it for now. I know some riders who are riding in this area in Spain and maybe I will message them and try and ride together. Just to see where my speed is and the feeling. Most guys are training and testing in Sardinia and as you know, the weather in Holland is terrible, with a lot of snow. The first race test for me will be Mantova. 

Roger De Coster on KTM's Worries Signing Jorge Prado

Roger De Coster, in conversation with Donn Maeda, has admitted it wasn’t a definite yes from Austria, especially Pit Beirer, for Jorge Prado to go back to KTM.

Roger said: “It was basically Ian and myself that decided we wanted to go for it. And then, of course, we needed approval from Austria and there were a little bit, there were some questions there, especially about Prado and Eli being at the end of his career and all that, but it turned around pretty quick and we did have some support from some people in Austria, but Pitt was not so happy about it and Pit is more, you know, if you leave him, he takes it more personal, you know, and it’s hard for him to, especially with Prado, he won four championships, if I remember right, with KTM and then left us and then wanted to come back and then we were not so sure about Supercross, you know, he struggled a lot last year.

“But he put in a lot of work this winter and I think our crew understands what he was looking for and, you know, first race went well and I’m not saying that he’s going to be like that the whole season, but because the season is long and Supercross is tough, you know, and so many injuries also and all that, but I don’t think it was a real fluke that he got on the podium, he was a good starter and he is very good technically on the bike and I think he likes his bike and I expect more good results.”

In just three Supercross races Prado has shown that his return was worth the risk by all involved.

Protecting Access in California

Prairie City SVRA At Risk

Prairie City State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA) is under direct threat. BlueRibbon Coalition has now joined legal action to stop a solar development proposal that, as approved, puts one of California’s most important OHV parks at serious and lasting risk.

This isn’t just about one project or one park. It’s about whether designated recreation areas are treated as permanent public commitments — or as negotiable land reserves when industrial development shows up.

Solar Development Threating Prairie City’s Future

BRC has joined the California Four Wheel Drive Association (Cal4Wheel) and the American Sand Association (ASA) in filing a lawsuit against Sacramento County over its approval of the Coyote Creek Agrivoltaic Ranch solar project. As approved, the project threatens Prairie City SVRA’s long-term ability to operate safely and effectively as a managed OHV recreation area.

Sacramento County advanced this project using an environmental review that failed to meet basic requirements of California law. Equally concerning: required coordination with State Parks and the OHMVR Commission was not completed, even though the project directly affects State Parks land.

When agencies don’t follow the law, the public loses — and access disappears.

Why Prairie City SVRA Matters

For decades, Prairie City SVRA has been a cornerstone of California’s off-highway vehicle system. Located just outside Sacramento, it was intentionally designated and developed to provide a permanent, managed space for OHV recreation near a major population center.

Prairie City supports:

• Daily riding and family recreation
• Safety education and training
• Competitive events and organized use
• Local economic benefits for the surrounding region

California made a clear decision: OHV recreation deserves dedicated space — not leftover land. That commitment is now being tested.

Why This Matters to Every Off-Roader

We’ve seen this pattern before. It’s why we also opposed broad fast-track proposals like the Western Solar Plan, which aimed to accelerate industrial-scale solar development across vast acreage while sidelining recreation concerns.

If Sacramento County gets away with skirting laws and processes, this precedent won’t stop at Prairie City.

Other SVRAs, dune systems, and public recreation areas across California — and throughout the West — will be next. This is how access is lost: not all at once, but one compromised designation at a time.

Prairie City is the line in the sand. If we don’t defend it now, it becomes easier to undermine every other OHV area later.

We Need You With Us

Legal action is the last line of defense when agencies refuse to follow the law. It is also resource-intensive and only works if our members stand behind it.

We have agreed to help raise funds for this lawsuit and make time available from our staff attorney to reduce costs.

We created a promo code for our Custom GasGas EX 300 sweepstakes to support this lawsuit. Use this link to donate, and you will receive double entries, our biggest and final multiplier, to win a custom dirt bike and an all-expense-paid trip to Moab!

Winter is Time to Save 20%

Winter is the perfect time to dial in your suspension. Cold temps. Fewer rides. More garage time.

Instead of waiting for spring to fix what didn’t feel right last season, now’s the moment to show your ride some love.

The Slacker Digital Suspension Tuner makes it easy to set up your suspension the right way—accurate, repeatable, and trail-ready. Whether you’re fine-tuning sag, checking suspension health, or rebuilding confidence in your setup, Slacker helps you start spring already confident and dialed.

Why winter is the best time to tune: 

• No rush — take your time and get it right.
• Take time to learn more about suspension setup.
• Spot issues before they cost you performance later.
• Roll into spring with confidence and control.

Your rider sag is the foundation of how your bike handles and how your suspension performs. Give it the attention it deserves now, so when spring hits, all you have to do is rip it.

This weekend enjoy 20% off your order using code SAVE20 at checkout, or click your bike type below and the discount code will automatically be applied for you at checkout.

Keep it dialed The Slacker Crew

Ballbreaker Extreme 2026

Possible Changes at KTM

Comment: Are KTM dropping the 250 two-stroke for a big-bore 350 EXC?

Restrictions are ruling out homologation for small capacity two-strokes – are KTM eyeing up a big-bore 350 2T TBI to fill gaps in the showrooms?

We’re not sure whether to run around cheering or put our heads in our hands and cry but with the 2026 enduro ranges from KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS all limited to just one homologated two-stroke model, the 300, are we on the verge of major 2T enduro line-up game change?

Lower capacity two-strokes are out, no longer homologated models but restricted to closed courses, leaving the 300 EXC the lone models cross KTM, Husqvarna and GASGAS ranges in 2026.

Though lots of people use the XC-W and obviously motocross models for racing, a large number of customers rarely or never enter events. So, with only one option (X3 colours give or take a few spec options), that means a huge drop in sales for the Austrian manufacturer.

Add to that the complications and expenses of continually developing small capacity two-strokes and we can see why the 300 two-stroke has become a lone soldier.

Wouldn’t it make sense to turn the development time, effort and money into bigger bikes, bikes people actually want and arrive with a bored-out the 300 with another 50ccs?

You know it makes sense

This is in no way official, just Enduro21 again having an ear to the ground and listening to the rumbles in the tracks. On the back of mounting evidence the PDS, direct rear suspension system on the KTM EXC range, will be dropped (in the North American market from 2027) and as they streamline production in the light of last year’s financialproblems under new majority owners, Bajaj, this could add to the list of resolved headaches in the R&D department at least.

A bored-out 300 would in theory be an easy development step for KTM and there are other 350 models attracting a lot of attention, specifically the Beta RX350 which is proving popular (although it is carburetted and not homologated).

Long live the 250

We’re fans of a 250 at Enduro21. The power delivery, the lighter clutch and feel for not much trade-off in top end power hits home between the trees.

When Mario Roman raced the 2025 Getzenrodeo Hard Enduro World Championship round on a Sherco SE 250 two-stroke we were dancing. Plus, our TSP-tuned Husky TE250 remains one of the best and most versatile fuel injected enduro bikes we’ve ever ridden. 

But that Austrian fuel injected two-stroke 250 needed the aftermarket work to make it usable for enduro and for many people the standard bikes have become obsolete in the showroom. Why would you buy one?

Add to this the fuel injected 250 and 300 TPI and TBI models have proved a spectacular failure at the races. Professional riders put this down to a power curve which is uninspiring when compared to rival carburetted bikes from Beta, Sherco and TM for example.

The 300 TBI has proved the exact opposite in Hard Enduro where the development to create a go-anywhere bike which happily chugs away in monster rock gardens, like Carl’s Diner at Erzberg, has transferred to successive Hard Enduro World Championships for Mani Lettenbichler and Billy Bolt.

Prices in the showrooms compared to rival manufacturers, plus spare parts availablity over the last year or so have not helped here it must be said.

The sheer volume of 300s sold only amplifies the problem for the smaller capacity bikes in the KTM Group which is why a 350 EXC could be the answer.

Lars Lindstrom on Jett Lawrence and Jo Shimoda

“I'm pretty confident that we'll see both of them back in supercross at some point”

“Yeah, I think I'm pretty confident that we'll see both of them back in supercross at some point. Jett's recovery is going incredible. That bone that he broke in his foot, the talus bone, is a really important bone, basically that's your main platform for the first thing that the tib and fib [tibia and fibula] touch. So, for that to be really healed is important. He's been doing everything possible, you know, as far as hyperbaric chamber and all the tools and tricks that that we have with Doc G and with the doctors that he had. So, it's been speeding up the recovery process quite a bit, just like it did with his knee [last year]. And that's the cool part. He's in there every day trying to get better. And Jo's been doing the same thing. And luckily, Jo's surgery was really well done. Really happy with that. And I think that he feels so good that I think he'll be back...I wouldn't say that he'll be back for the first East Coast [SX race]. We still don't have a clear answer from his doctors when they think it'll be, but he had some scans done this week, and we should know more pretty soon.”

Chase Sexton on Anaheim 2

Stewart Shows His Toughness!

Top10 in San Diego defies the odds for injured Stewart. Gritty 450SX performance upon return from Anaheim 1.

One week after his frightening crash at the Monster Energy Supercross season-opener in Anaheim, 450SX contender Malcolm Stewart defied the odds in earning a top 10 finish in San Diego while racing with a fractured scapula bone in his shoulder blade.

After a diagnosis that included both a dislocated shoulder and scapula injury in the aftermath of Angel Stadium’s multi-bike incident, the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider was cleared to compete at the second Supercross round in the days leading up to the event.

Questioning whether he could push through the pain, a gritty performance saw him advance directly to the main event via a P6 ride in his heat race, before achieving a 10th place finish to conclude his night at Snapdragon Stadium.

“Last night wasn’t about how I finished,” recalled Stewart. “The win was committing to the race when I could’ve easily sat it out – a [decision] I questioned more than once. But I stayed in it, pushed through the pain, and finished what I started.

Webb Not Happy!

Webb admits his chances are reducing to retain the title!

A very disappointed Cooper Webb feels his fifth place, after a crash trying to pass Tomac, at A2 is a ‘nail in the coffin’ for his title defence.

Speaking to NBC after the main event, Cooper said: “It’s been hell to be honest to start the year. It is part of the sport, you do everything right and sometimes you get your teeth kicked in. I was happy with tonight, I was riding well. It’s rare when I’m with number 3 and if anything he’s holding me back a little bit. I can’t be too mad at myself, I was trying to get a pass lined up in the sand and made a mistake and went down.

“Just a bummer, I feel tonight may or may not have put a nail in the coffin for my title defence, it’s bittersweet. But in this sport nothing is over until it’s over. I will keep working hard and I feel like I was one of the better guys out there tonight. With Prado on the start and Hunter, that was an unfortunate thing we all have to deal with next to Prado.

“It’s racing, I’m pissed, not good results but not for a lack of effort, the heart is there. Get on the same pony that kicks you off and ride it out. We will be back next week that’s for sure.“