Herlings wins in England

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has gone 1-2 for victory at the Grand Prix of Great Britain. The 2018 MXGP champion added another GP victory to his name and goes into his home GP at Valkenswaard next weekend with a lot of confidence. 

Tim Gajser, the defending champion also showed his hand with a stunning second moto victory, but a crash in the first race cost him any chance of battling Herlings for the GP win. 

Second overall was Tim Gajser and third Antonio Cairoli. Three of the big four on the podium and a championship that is looking very good. A total of 16 World championships on the podium with the big three. 200 GP wins between the big three. Yes, these boys are all legends.

Jeffrey Herlings: “Yes, definitely (great to win), it was scary that second race with the sun so low but we have that in March. We got a great win with first and second and that second race I didn’t want to take any risk with the sun in that second one. I have been studying the championships and I want to be consistent and I don't want to win every race and I already lost a moto, so that is okay.

Tim Gajser: I mean, overall I am super happy to finish on the podium. The first race I was disappointed and crashed twice, but the second one I had a good start and got a comfortable lead and won the moto. Looking forward to next weekend.

Antonio Cairoli: Like I told before, I am really happy with anything here. My shoulder is much better, but 10 days ago I twisted my knee in Lommel and hurt my PCL and the knee was already damaged and I am thankful that I didn't have too much pain today. It was dangerous with the sun and I was scared and couldn't see much. I want to take it easy and build it up.

Gajser took the lead early from Cairoli, Herlings, Jacobi, Paulin, Desalle, Prado, Simpson, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Jonass, Tonus, Vlaanderen, Jasikonis, and Cervellin 15^th. Evans was down in 22^nd.

Gajser just took off as Cairoli got out of shape and nearly went down but remained in second place. Herlings third, with Paulin and Desalle rounding out the top five. Gajser a stunning eight seconds ahead of Cairoli and Herlings all over the Italian for second place. The pace of this class is just ridiculous.

Two laps done and the lead was 10 seconds as Gajser just bullies the race away from the competition. Evans on a small charge as he moved into 10^th place. Herlings was all over Cairoli and passed the Italian on a fantastic passing move. Within a few corners he has gapped Cairoli by 100 metres.

Evans all over Prado and Coldenhoff and he quickly dispatched the MX2 World champion and lined up Coldenhoff. Evans into seventh place as he moved Jacobi out of the way, the Aussie is flying. Evans also moved past Seewer for sixth place.

After five laps the lead by the World champion was 16 seconds, then Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Evans, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Jacobi and Prado. Evans is quickly onto Desalle and Paulin. Herlings nearly off the bike as he slips and slides around a corner.

Interestingly, it looked like Paulin and Desalle were catching Cairoli and Evans was catching them. Jonass in the mechanics area with problems on lap six. The lead was extended to 19 seconds as Gajser really showing he isn’t handing his title to anyone on a plate.

Seven laps in and the lead was 22 seconds, second was Herlings just two seconds ahead of Cairoli and then came Paulin, Desalle, Evans, Seewer, Coldenhoff, Jacobi, Prado in 10^th. Coldenhoff went past Evans, and on the 11^th lap the lead by Gajser was 22 seconds.

The final finishing order for the race was Gajser, Herlings, Cairoli, Paulin, Desalle, Coldenhoff, Evans, Seewer, Jacobi and Paturel. Prado down to 12^th place, obviously struggling with his fitness after his injury.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 – Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), 35:44.501; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:23.382; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:28.395; 4. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Yamaha), +0:30.195; 5. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:32.276; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, GASGAS), +0:33.945; 7. Mitchell Evans (AUS, Honda), +0:36.870; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:38.209; 9. Henry Jacobi (GER, Yamaha), +0:48.109; 10.