Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has won the Grand Prix of Bulgaria with another 1-1 performance and extended his world championship points lead over Antonio Cairoli to 73 points heading into the Turkish GP next weekend.
It was also the Dutchmans 14th GP win of the season, and his 81st GP win of his career. He is now just four GP wins behind Cairoli in the all-time list.
Second overall in Bulgaria was Tim Gajser with 2-3 results and Clement Desalle was third with 3-4 scores. Cairoli was fourth with 8-2 results. Herlings can now only be beaten by Cairoli as all the other competition are more than 150 points behind with three GPs remaining.
“It was awesome," Herlings said. "We came out with three good starts and led every single lap, and we now lead by 73 points with Turkey, Assen and Italy remaining. I want to thank the man above for keeping me safe and also the Red Bull KTM Factory team. We need to see the situation, maybe now start thinking about the championship. 150pt up for grabs and I have a lead of 73, but Antonio is very strong, we saw that in the second moto, he is bad ass."
"Sure it was a good weekend," Gajser said. "The track was not rough but hard and slick. We took two good starts and I am looking forward to Turkey."
"We were consistent," Desalle said. "But I have to say I was behind and its been difficult. I want to be better, but a big kiss to my family and also my mechanic who had a baby, and I wish them the best."
Cairoli led moto two of the MXGP with Herlings second, then Desalle, Gajser, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Lieber, Anstie, Searle, Paulin in 10th.
Herlings went for a pass early, but Cairoli blocked the passing move, but then Herlings just blew under the Italian for the lead. Gajser nearly pushed Cairoli off the track looking for a pass, but the Italian hung tough and kept second place.
Liebe down and out as he seems to be injured, and Febvre also crashed in a slippery corner. After two laps it was Herlings with a two second lead from Cairoli, Gajser, Desalle, Coldenhoff, Anstie, Paulin, Febvre, Searle and Seewer.
Febvre all over his Team France rider Paulin, and made a pass in lap three, so back into seventh spot. Strijbos passed Waters for 12th place, and Herlings extended his lead slightly over Cairoli. Lupino also passed Waters, with the Aussie dropping to 14th, and Simpson was into the mechanics area for adjustments to his bike.
After four laps Cairoli closed up a little on Herlings, and Seewer was all over Searle for ninth place. Herlings turned up the heat and suddenly pulled away from Cairoli, and maybe the Dutchman is just playing with his Italian rival?
After five laps it was Herlings with a 2.5 second lead, then Cairoli, Gajser, Desalle, Coldenhoff, Febvre, Anstie, Paulin, Searle and Seewer.
Herlings just cruising around in front, with Cairoli four seconds back after 10 laps, then Gajser, Desalle, Febvre, Anstie, Coldenhoff, Paulin, Searle, Seewer in 10th.
A race of waiting as the top ten didn’t change in two laps, as Herlings extended to a six second lead on lap 13, and Cairoli had eight seconds over Gajser. Then came Desalle, Febvre, Anstie, Coldenhoff, Searle, Paulin and Seewer.
And the final moto was a battle of the world champions as Herlings won it from Cairoli and Gajser.
MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Classification
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:21.881; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:14.366; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:25.658; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:34.633; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:44.829; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:47.752; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:50.922; 8. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:54.196; 9. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:54.943; 10. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:57.488; 11. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:06.183; 12. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +1:12.012; 13. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +1:25.473; 14. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Yamaha), +1:31.429; 15. Tanel Leok (EST, Husqvarna), +1:33.428; 16. Todd Waters (AUS, Honda), +1:53.951; 17. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Petar Petrov (BUL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Klemen Gercar (SLO, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 21. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Shaun Simpson (GBR, Yamaha), -2 lap(s); 23. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, Honda), -2 lap(s); 24. Nathan Renkens (BEL, Honda), -12 lap(s); 25. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), -18 lap(s);
MXGP - GP Classification
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 42 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 38 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 35 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 34 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 28 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 26 p.; 8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 23 p.; 9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 22 p.; 10. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 21 p.; 11. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 18 p.; 12. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 16 p.; 13. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 15 p.; 14. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 14 p.; 15. Tanel Leok (EST, HUS), 13 p.; 16. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, YAM), 12 p.; 17. Shaun Simpson (GBR, YAM), 10 p.; 18. Todd Waters (AUS, HON), 7 p.; 19. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 7 p.; 20. Petar Petrov (BUL, HON), 6 p.; 21. Valentin Guillod (SUI, KTM), 3 p.; 22. Klemen Gercar (SLO, HUS), 1 p.; 23. Nathan Renkens (BEL, HON), 1 p.; 24. Jonathan Bengtsson (SWE, KTM), 0 p.; 25. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, HON), 0 p.;