Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has won his 80th GP (13th of the season and 18th GP victory from 22 GPs), and extended his championship points lead to 58pts to defending MXGP champion Antonio Cairoli.
The big news was not so much the victory by Herlings, but the injury picked up by Cairoli in the opening moto of the day, as the Italian twisted his knee and was concerned he had damaged his ligament. He did ride the second moto for sixth place.
Herlings went 1-1 and Cairoli could only manage 8-6 results. With 733pts for Herlings and 675pts for Cairoli the points lead is now 58 points. Anything can happen, but its going to be hard work for the Sicilian to regain his title and get that 10th world championship.
“I am on top of the world right now,” Herlings said. “That is my personal feeling. Two pretty good starts, second wasn’t as good but I managed to do my own pace and to win on difficult tracks like this is pretty amazing for me. I want to thank the team and all the support. I can’t wait for Bulgaria, we did some pretty good things today for the championship. We did a good job, they guys are working so hard on the bike and we keep trying to improve and get better. Today was about points and went 1-1. Four more to go and thanks to everyone around."
"To be on the podium is always nice," Febvre said. "The team did a good job. Now we work hard on the start and it is really good now and when yo ustart on the front it is easier. i had the speed of Jeffrey but he pulled a gap. I am happy."
"Actually," Desalle said. "Three good starts and the first moto was good. I was disapponted with the second moto, I was leading and got passed by Herlings and Febve and finished fourth, but I am still positive."
At the start of the second MXGP moto, it was Desalle in the lead from Lieber, Febvre, Cairoli, Montichelli, Paulin, Herlings, Gajser, Simpson and Anstie. Herlings quickly into third place and flying as usual. Cairoli slowly losing places and seemingly struggling with his knee. Herlings into second place and just amazing again.
After one lap it was Desalle, Herlings, Febvre, Gajser, Cairoli, Lieber, Anstie, Seewer, Simpson, and Bobryshev 10th. Lieber went down hard and dropped out of the top ten.
Desalle riding brilliantly in first place as he kept Herlings from closing up, and Coldenhoff moved into the top ten with Lieber in 17th place.
Febvre doing what seemed impossible close up on Herlings and was putting pressure on the red plate owner. Cairoli was still in fifth, but right on his tail was Anstie.
Desalle, Herlings and Febvre all locked together in a great race up front. Herlings knew he had to get past Desalle, because Febvre was looking very hungry.
Herlings suddenly took the lead from Desalle as he dived up the inside of the Belgian rider, and Seewer was out of the race with a dead bike. Lupino into the top ten with Seewer out.
Anstie passed Cairoli for fifth place and the Italian losing more points to Herlings.
Febvre went past Desalle, as did Gajser, and the points Desalle is losing is making the championship picture for Herlings very strong. If Cairoli is out for Bulgaria, and Turkey, will Herlings be crowned in Bulgaria next weekend?
Herlings wins the moto, the GP and makes a big brake in Cairoli in the points race. Herlings in fact is 190 points ahead of third placed man Desalle, who will more than likely drop out of the championship picture after Bulgarian next weekend (200 points available going into Bulgaria).
MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Classification
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:40.600; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:14.868; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:17.722; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:26.984; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:37.939; 6. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:46.833; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:51.700; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +0:55.465; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:04.298; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +1:09.295; 11. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), +1:12.971; 12. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:14.490; 13. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +1:24.088; 14. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:27.285; 15. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +1:32.335; 16. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:34.119; 17. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), +1:42.332; 18. Todd Waters (AUS, Honda), +1:43.439; 19. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:59.395; 20. Petar Petrov (BUL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 21. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 22. Ander Valentin (ESP, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 23. Nathan Renkens (BEL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 24. Andy Baumgartner (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s); 25. Jason Clermont (FRA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 26. Nicolas Bender (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 27. Yves Furlato (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 28. Robin Kappel (FRA, Kawasaki), -2 lap(s); 29. Alessandro Brugnoni (ITA, KTM), -2 lap(s); 30. Cyrill Scheiwiller (SUI, Yamaha), -3 lap(s); 31. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Yamaha), -5 lap(s); 32. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -5 lap(s); 33. Davide Bonini (ITA, KTM), -7 lap(s); 34. Kim Schaffter (SUI, Kawasaki), -14 lap(s); 35. Thomas Marini (SMR, Kawasaki), -15 lap(s);
MXGP - GP Classification
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 42 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 40 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 32 p.; 5. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 31 p.; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 29 p.; 7. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 24 p.; 9. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 24 p.; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 21 p.; 11. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, SUZ), 20 p.; 12. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 20 p.; 13. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 18 p.; 14. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 13 p.; 15. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 13 p.; 16. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 10 p.; 17. Todd Waters (AUS, HON), 9 p.; 18. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 7 p.; 19. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), 7 p.; 20. Petar Petrov (BUL, HON), 3 p.; 21. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HUS), 1 p.; 22. Ander Valentin (ESP, HUS), 0 p.; 23. Nathan Renkens (BEL, HON), 0 p.; 24. Andy Baumgartner (SUI, KTM), 0 p.; 25. Jason Clermont (FRA, KAW), 0 p.; 26. Nicolas Bender (SUI, HUS), 0 p.; 27. Yves Furlato (SUI, HUS), 0 p.; 28. Robin Kappel (FRA, KAW), 0 p.; 29. Alessandro Brugnoni (ITA, KTM), 0 p.; 30. Cyrill Scheiwiller (SUI, YAM), 0 p.; 31. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, YAM), 0 p.; 32. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 0 p.; 33. Davide Bonini (ITA, KTM), 0 p.; 34. Kim Schaffter (SUI, KAW), 0 p.; 35. Thomas Marini (SMR, KAW), 0 p.; 36. Michael Docherty (RSA, HUS), 0 p.; 37. Graeme Irwin (GBR, KTM), 0 p.;
MXGP - World Championship Classification
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 733 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 675 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 543 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 510 p.; 5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 507 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 455 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 420 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 371 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 350 p.; 10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 298 p.; 11. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, SUZ), 261 p.; 12. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 232 p.; 13. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), 227 p.; 14. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 205 p.; 15. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 201 p.; 16. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 170 p.; 17. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 130 p.; 18. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, HON), 111 p.; 19. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 102 p.; 20. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), 94 p.; 21. Maxime Desprey (FRA, KAW), 89 p.; 22. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 80 p.; 23. Todd Waters (AUS, HON), 42 p.; 24. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, YAM), 41 p.; 25. Graeme Irwin (GBR, KTM), 41 p.; 26. Benoit Paturel (FRA, KTM), 40 p.; 27. Petar Petrov (BUL, HON), 40 p.; 28. Harri Kullas (EST, HUS), 18 p.; 29. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), 15 p.; 30. Lewis Stewart (AUS, HUS), 13 p.; 31. Ander Valentin (ESP, HUS), 8 p.; 32. Jeffrey Dewulf (BEL, KTM), 7 p.; 33. Aldi Lazaroni (INA, HUS), 6 p.; 34. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (INA, HUS), 6 p.; 35. Ken de Dycker (BEL, KTM), 5 p.; 36. Jetro Salazar (PER, HON), 5 p.; 37. Erki Kahro (EST, KTM), 5 p.; 38. Filip Bengtsson (SWE, YAM), 3 p.; 39. Stefan Ekerold (GER, KTM), 3 p.; 40. Gregory Aranda (FRA, KAW), 3 p.; 41. Andre Sondakh (INA, KTM), 3 p.; 42. Paulo Alberto (POR, YAM), 2 p.; 43. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HUS), 1 p.; 44. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, YAM), 1 p.;