Motocross

Jeffrey Herlings Notches up 100th Career Podium with Matterley Basin Win

Posted:

Monday, June 4th, 2018

7:55 AM

Jeffrey Herlings Notches up 100th Career Podium with Matterley Basin Win

Herlings win gave him his 100th World Championship podium and extend his lead in the championship to almost 50 points. Photo: Youthstream

Eager British fans lined the track at the Matterley Basin circuit in the UK to see some of the best races of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship season so far.

The MXGP of Great Britain saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing‰Ûªs Jeffrey Herlings and Pauls Jonass assert themselves as undisputed winners.

The unusually sunny British weather was scorching hot and when combined with the nearly 2,000 meter circuit provided testing but epic conditions for the world‰Ûªs best motocross riders. The stadium like venue gave perfect viewing for all in attendance as the racing action kicked off.

MXGP Race 1 started with a Fox Holeshot from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Antonio Cairoli just ahead of his teammate Glen Coldenhoff. A few spots further back was the other Red Bull KTM of Jeffrey Herlings, the MXGP points leader.

Team HRC‰Ûªs Tim Gajser also had a good start and ran third after the start but by the end of the 1st official lap Herlings moved into second as Coldenhoff dropped to fifth behind the surging Clement Desalle.

Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP‰Ûªs Romain Febvre and Jeremy Van Horebeek ran 6th and 7th with home town hero Tommy Searle in 8th. Febvre later jumped into 5th past Coldenhoff which he held for the remainder of the race.

Antonio Cairoli (222) has, by far, been the second fastest all season but now sits almost 50 points behind his team-mate in the championhsip. Photo: Youthstream

Searle was looking strong before a piece of plastic caught in his chain started to distract the Brit. Meanwhile Julien Lieber was gaining ground and with 4 laps remaining Lieber took a spot from Searle along with Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP‰Ûªs Jeremy Seewer. Searle took the 9th back when Seewer fell in a turn and lost a handful of positions before finishing fourth.

Back at the front the battle was on between Cairoli and Herlings. A bad lap and some mistakes left Herlings in a position to take the lead but Cairoli fought back and the two carried on for the next laps. With 2 laps to go Herlings dove to the inside of Cairoli and both bobbled with Cairoli going down. Herlings took the race win but Cairoli got up quickly and managed second with Gajser 3rd.

Race 2 started just the same with pole-winner Cairoli taking his second holeshot and Herlings around 4th with Febvre and Desalle in between. Meanwhile Gajser lost traction and had a big save in front of Pit Lane. After the first few corners Herlings was already into 2nd and chasing down Cairoli while Desalle took 3rd from Febvre.

Yamaha's Romain Febvre rounded out the MXGP podium but never made any ground as he tied with Clement Desalle, they both sit 3rd and 4th in the standings. Photo: Youthstream

The front two started to pull away from Desalle after a couple of laps as both were setting their fastest laps each time around. On lap 6 Desalle fell, letting both Febvre and Gajser through before remounting his Kawasaki.

Gajser then started to close on Febvre coming within passing distance several times but couldn‰Ûªt make it through. As Gajser continued to try to get by Febvre it was Desalle who ended up making it past the Slovenian.

When the 2 lap board came out Herlings was still behind Cairoli by a few seconds and realized he need to make a pass for the lead. As the pair started the final lap and came down the start straight into the first turn Herlings spotted his opportunity and took the spot! Herlings‰Ûª pace on the final lap resulted in the fastest lap of the race with a 2:19.285 and gave him the race win for maximum points and the clear overall. Herlings win gave him his 100th World Championship podium as Cairoli finished 2nd and Febvre took 3rd.

"I am very happy to be here in this spot and to win, we made it happen and it‰Ûªs a pleasure," Herlings said. "It was a great race, both times I managed to get the lead, the first race 2 laps until the end and in the last race it was in the last lap, it was an amazing fight and a great way to get my 100th podium.‰Û

Pauls Jonass extended his lead in the MX2 class courtesy of another clean sweep ahead of main rival and team-mate Jorge Prado. Photo: Youthstream

Much like in the MXGP class tension is building within the MX2 championship as Red Bull KTM Factory Racing‰Ûªs Pauls Jonass and Jorge Prado each try to assert themselves as the top rider. Prado who won yesterday‰Ûªs Qualifying Race by a near mile took the Race 1 Holeshot but Jonass responded before the pair excited turn 3.

While Jonass was leading and Prado held second Ruben Fernandez was off to a blistering start. Fernandez ran third in front of Thomas Covington and Thomas Kjer Olsen. Fernandez held the position the first 5 laps before Covington took the spot.

On the same lap as Covington‰Ûªs move forward his teammate, Olsen, was shifted back by Team HRC‰Ûªs Calvin Vlaanderen. The following lap both Vlaanderen and Olsen moved Fernandez down the running order.

Things then started happening fast for the #70 of Fernandez dropping another 2 positions the next lap and 4 more after that. Olsen however found his groove again and passed Vlaanderen back and went even further forward to pass Covington. Olsen then faced a mechanical issue and was unable to finish the race while Jonass and Prado crossed the finish line followed by Covington, Vlaanderen, and Jumbo No Fear Vamo Honda‰Ûªs Marshal Weltin, who had a stellar ride. Also impressive was Kemea Yamaha Official MX2 Team‰Ûªs Ben Watson who after having an issue on the start came back from dead last to finish 6th.

After qualifying fastest on Saturday, Spaniard Jorge Prado could not match his team-mates speed come raceday. Photo: Youthstream

Race 2 was another Fox Holeshot from the fast starting spaniard, Jorge Prado. Race 1 winner Jonass was behind Prado from the start but didn‰Ûªt let the #61 get far away. In third was STC Racing Husqvarna‰Ûªs Henry Jacobi with Olsen and Vlaanderen giving chase.

Just outside the top 5 was F&H Racing Team‰Ûªs Jed Beaton in 6th but on his third time around he ejected of the uphill triple and did not finish the race. Inheriting 6th position from Beaton was LRT KTM‰Ûªs Davy Pootjes.

On around lap 6 the battle for 3rd intensified between Jacobi and Olsen. Olsen went around the outside of Jacobi but the German fought back which caused him to miss his line and as Olsen tried to charge by again Jacobi slammed the door causing Olsen to go down. The battle allowed Vlaanderen to pass both and jump into third. Olsen tried to rebound from the fall but his bike again gave out forcing another DNF.

South African Calvin Vlaanderen continues to impress for HRC Honda and notched up another podium at Matterley Basin and now sits 5th in the standings. Photo: Youthstream

Just after the battle for third was decided Pauls Jonass charged past Prado for the lead. Meanwhile Watson was again fighting forward after another bad start and with 2 laps to go the British hero took 4th from Jacobi as Jonass won the race ahead of Prado and Vlaanderen. The overall finished the same as race 2 with Jonass on the top step, Prado second, and Vlaanderen taking 3rd for the second time.

‰ÛÏToday I managed to turn it around and in the first race on the start I was just behind Prado and managed to pass him right away," Jonass said. "I am happy to go 1-1 again and especially like this because in previous races when Jorge has got the holeshot and a lead he just pulls away, so for me it was good to catch him and pass him in the last laps today.‰Û

In shocking news for Australia, Jed Beaton crashed heavily in the second moto, breaking both legs, after racing to a solid eighth place in race one.

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:58.965
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:10.188
3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:14.527
4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:32.384
5. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:47.533
6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:50.591
7. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:58.183
8. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +1:01.933
9. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:06.611
10. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), +1:09.122

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:26.698
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:01.150
3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Yamaha), +0:40.145
4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:42.049
5. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:54.266
6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), +0:58.266
7. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:59.513
8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +1:01.221
9. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, Suzuki), +1:32.712
10. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +1:39.421

MXGP Overall Top Ten:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 Points
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 44 Points
3. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 36 Points
4. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 36 Points
5. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 36 Points
6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 30 Points
7. Evgeny Bobryshev (RUS, SUZ), 23 Points
8. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 23 Points
9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 22 Points
10. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 17 Points

MXGP Championship Top Ten:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 436 pointsPoints
2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 382 Points
3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 314 Points
4. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 291 Points
5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 267 Points
6. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 257 Points
7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 237 Points
8. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 207 Points
9. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 198 Points
10. Julien Lieber (BEL, KAW), 162 Points

Jorge Prado (61) put himself in a winning position off the start but couldn't go

MX2 Race 1 Top Ten:
1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 36:21.354
2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:00.840
3. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +0:49.040
4. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, Honda), +0:55.651
5. Marshal Weltin (USA, Honda), +0:59.351
6. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:00.863
7. Henry Jacobi (GER, Husqvarna), +1:01.791
8. Jed Beaton (AUS, Kawasaki), +1:06.628
9. Anthony Rodriguez (VEN, Yamaha), +1:10.412
10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:16.918

MX2 Race 2 Top Ten:
1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 36:42.951
2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:01.294
3. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, Honda), +0:38.493
4. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +0:40.283
5. Henry Jacobi (GER, Husqvarna), +0:54.081
6. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, Husqvarna), +0:58.663
7. Jago Geerts (BEL, Yamaha), +0:59.296
8. Davy Pootjes (NED, KTM), +1:07.559
9. Thomas Covington (USA, Husqvarna), +1:13.917
10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Yamaha), +1:23.880

MX2 Overall Top Ten:
1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 50 points
2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 44 Points
3. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 38 Points
4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 33 Points
5. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 32 Points
6. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 30 Points
7. Iker Larranaga Olano (ESP, HUS), 25 Points
8. Marshal Weltin (USA, HON), 24 Points
9. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 22 Points
10. Anthony Rodriguez (VEN, YAM), 22 Points

MX2 Championship Top Ten:
1. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KTM), 401 pointsPoints
2. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), 373 Points
3. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, HUS), 288 Points
4. Ben Watson (GBR, YAM), 279 Points
5. Calvin Vlaanderen (RSA, HON), 234 Points
6. Jed Beaton (AUS, KAW), 216 Points
7. Henry Jacobi (GER, HUS), 187 Points
8. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 179 Points
9. Thomas Covington (USA, HUS), 166 Points
10. Michele Cervellin (ITA, YAM), 161 Points