Herlings Sensational in Holland

Jeffery Herlings of the Red Bull KTM Factory team is the master of race craft. His cruise to second place in the opening moto made us all doubt he is still the man in MXGP, but his total domination of the second moto, to score 2-1 results proved “The Bullet” is still the man, taking his second GP of the season and his 88^th in his career. It was also Herlings ninth victory at the Valkenswaard circuit. Herlings also lapped up to fifth place.

“Yes, he did (Gajser gave him a hard time),” Herlings said. “I don’t know how he did it from that start position and he did great, he was up the front in both races early. Second race we were first and second, so nice to beat him straight up. He beat me in the first one fair and square, and I beat him in the second one. I am looking forward to Argentina now. He was good, I don't know what he has done in the winters, he has improved so much and he did a great job and kept me honest. We lapped up to fifth place, so we were on it."

Second overall was Tim Gajser who went 1-2 after crashing while in second in the second moto, but showed enough over the weekend to let us know that he will give Herlings some tough races in 2020. Third overall was Arminas Jasikonis with 3-3 results.

“Overall I am super happy from what happened yesterday with a really bad gate pick," Gajser said. "Two solid starts and the second race battling with Jeffrey, but I got a roost in the second one and couldn't see properly and it was easy to make a mistake, because the ground was realy soft."

In the championship points it is Jeffrey Herlings 94 points, Tim Gajser 85 points and Antonio Cairoli on 68 points. It might be a two horse race moving into the next few rounds.

Herlings led the second MXGP moto from Gajser, Cairoli, Jasikonis, Jonass, Simpson, Monticelli, Cervellin, Lupino, Bobryshev in 10^th. Gajser tried to pass Herlings, but the Dutchman wasn’t having any of it as he blocked the Honda riders move. Prado and Seewer down in the first corner and Jonass down and way out of the top ten soon after. Tonus stuck on the start with what seemed like a dead motor. Evans not starting after injuring his shoulder in the first race.

After two laps the lead was two seconds as Gajser seems to be really pushing his limits and Herlings is another animal from the first race. His go slow attitude seems to be spot on. Top ten on lap two was Herlings, Gajser, Jasikonis, Cairoli, Simpson, Monticelli, Bobryshev, Van Horebeek, Cervellin, and Van Berkel 10^th.

Herlings looking brilliant again and making everyone in the crowd comfortable again.  Monticelli down and Seewer also in trouble, as was Adam Sterry. After two laps the lead was nearly five seconds and the lap times of Herlings were three seconds quicker than Gajser.

Gajser though turned up his times on lap four and was suddenly less than three seconds behind Herlings. Cat and mouse stuff by the two quickest riders in the World and the crowd are loving it. Desalle back in 15^th, Prado 16^th and Paulin 20^th.

Five laps down and the lead was again five seconds, Jasikonis was third, then Cairoli, Simpson, Van Horebeek, Bobryshev, Cervellin, Kullas, and Van Berkel 10^th. Desalle 13^th, Prado 17^th and Paulin 18^th.

A lap later and the lead was two seconds again as he started catching Herlings and in third place Jasikonis was 16 seconds back in third. Jonass a brilliant ride and into the top ten as he moved into 8^th place.

Gajser onto Herlings as the bullet blocked by lapped riders, and then Gajser nearly off the bike as he mis-times a jump as he slipped in the muddy conditions. Suddenly the lead was more than five seconds. Desalle into 10^th place and Paulin into 13^th.

Lapped riders getting out of the way of Herlings as he starts lapping up to 15^th place, and Gajser has a little more trouble to get past the slower riders. After 10 laps it was Herlings, Gajser, Jasikonis, Cairoli, Simpson, Van Horebeek, Bobryshev, Jonass, Kullas, and Desalle. Gajser making little mistakes and the lead was up to around seven seconds.

After 11 laps the lead was nine seconds as Herlings continued to look the goods, Gajser second, Jasikonis half a lap behind the leader, then Simpson, Cairoli, Van Horebeek, Bobryshev, Desalle, Coldenhoff and Kullas. Herlings lapping 10^th place rider, but more importantly, Gajser took five seconds out of the lead by Herlings, just five seconds on lap 12.

Gajser down hard as he handed the GP overall to Herlings and the Dutchman laps seventh placed Desalle. The lead was 19 seconds as Herlings wins the race, the overall and is still the man in MXGP.