Jeffrey Herlings interviewRed Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herling might have a massive 112 point lead but he isn’t looking at anything at the moment other than staying out of trouble and clocking up the points. After losing the MX2 title in 2014 to Jordi Tixier the Dutchman has struggled with injuries and crashes, so much so that he is probably only racing at 60% of his normal speed.
In saying that the young guns of the MX2 class, names like Valentin Guillod, Jordi Tixier, Tim Gajser and before his injury Dylan Ferrandis are making life difficult for the fastest MX2/250 rider in the world.
Coming away from the Grand Prix of France with 1-1 scores and his body slowly recovering from pre-season and early season injuries we might start to see Herlings put together more perfect weekends, at least that is what he is hoping.
We caught up with him after his victory and asked him about his 47th GP win (just three GP wins away from the great Joel Robert tally of 50). Also take a look at these brilliant Ray Archer images from Herlings France victory.
Mxlarge: Jeffrey, it is still clear you are not 100%. While the younger riders are doing amazing, how tough is it to be racing when you are not at your best?
Herlings: As I have mentioned before, I didn’t have the winter program, just started on the bike in middle of February and I was struggling so much and normally I could train every day, but it was like one day working, two days off, so I struggled for preparation before Qatar, like 10 days on the bike in total, then after Argentina I had a big crash and couldn’t ride between that race and Italy, in fact I almost didn’t race in Italy, then had a big crash in Italy and couldn’t ride between Italy and Valkenswaard. In Spain a big crash, I did two races in Holland and Belgium between those, but still I haven’t had enough bike time. It will come back to me, but I need more time and I need to stay away from crashes.
Mxlarge: In saying that, these young kids are doing an awesome job of battling with you. I know you don’t really enjoy these types of tracks in France, but you are still pushing forward and scoring good points.
Herlings: If you look at the championship it looks ok, but I feel like the rest come closer because I haven’t had the bike time. I left France healthy so hopefully I can put in some good days of training and go to Italy a little better prepared. At the moment we are racing on the tracks I find difficult, like in England, France, and Italy. The tracks I like are coming later like Lommel, Assen, Latvia, and Glen Helen. I mean I can’t complain if we can stay out of injuries then we can get the job done.
Mxlarge: When you took that holeshot in the opening moto you must have been so pumped, first that you got the start and then that nice little cut up the inside to take the lead.
Herlings: I was worried all night long, waking up and thinking I am going to be all the way on the outside or all the way on the inside, and I figured I would just make the best of it and do what I am capable of. I just thought to myself I need to ride like a champion and I did that twice getting the holeshot from right on the outside. That was pretty sweet, in fact I was screaming at myself when I took the holeshot, but then I went down and I was like, oh come on man. I still worked my way to the front and won the moto, so that was good.
Mxlarge: When you took the holeshot after such a terrible moto on Saturday I was thinking to myself, ok, it’s Sunday and he knows that is when the points are scored. What did you think?
Herlings: That is something you need to get going and handle the pressure and when you are so far on the outside you really don’t know if you will get to the front. I was comfortable and did what I had to do and those two holeshots really helped me out.
Mxlarge: Changing the subject, are you looking forward to racing Marvin at the USGP?
Herlings: Well Marvin is over 23 so he will be in the MXGP class, but there will still be some good guys racing, I saw Jessy Nelson will be riding and some other guys, so obviously it will be good and my goal is to win the world championship, but it is a track I like and it is their home track so they can’t make excuses that the tracks are different or whatever, so it should be fun.
Mxlarge: In the past you have planned things, like going to Unadilla, or riding the bigger bike against Cairoli, but injuries stopped that. I guess you won’t be making plans this year?
Herlings: Obviously with this sport you can’t plan anything, so many things happen so quickly, I mean I broke my femur in a second. The plan was to win the championship in Loket, and normally I would have won that thing. We wanted to go to Unadilla and win there, go to Lommel on the big bike, but it all went wrong in a few seconds and for this season we just want to win the championship and just be consistent and not get injured. Maybe if we win the championship we will plan some stuff.
Mxlarge: Any chance of seeing you in the MXGP class at Glen Helen?
Herlings: I don’t know, but I don’t think so, already KTM have Dungey, Nagl on Husky, they already have so many big bike riders, I don’t think that is smart from KTM’s side, but you never know, but at this moment I don’t think we will do that.
http://www.mxlarge.com/2015/06/01/jeffrey-herlings-interview-19/