Sandmaster Herlings owns home Grand Prix for fourth MXGP victory of 2024
MXGP ploughed back into the sand for the Grand Prix of the Netherlands and the Arnhem terrain was the scene for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings to go 1-1 for the third time this season with his KTM 450 SX-F.
For the second year in a row the Dutch Grand Prix was hosted by the compact and sandy Motorsportpark Gelderland circuit in Arnhem. Jeffrey Herlings was attempting his first MXGP outing at the venue after missing the 2023 event. Hot and bright weather greeted both days of action at the rippled, technical and physical layout.
On Saturday the RAM Qualification race decided the gate positions for the two Grand Prix motos on Sunday as well as providing the riders with their first opportunity to snare world championship points for the weekend. Herlings took his works KTM 450 SX-F to 4th position after a top ten start.
Sunday saw Herlings in superb form despite a back complaint. He took his time to make progress in the first moto but passed his title rivals to comfortably own the checkered flag. #84’s start was better in the second race and he was able to control the 30 minute and 2-lap distance from the front of the pack; winning his twelfth moto of the year by almost ten seconds.
Jeffrey Herlings now has eleven consecutive podium finishes and twelve for the season as well as 15 career wins on home soil. The points haul means he is 3rd in the standings: just 35 from the red plate and 26 from P2.
Jeffrey Herlings, 1st and 1st for 1st overall in MXGP: “I struggled with a painful back this week. It was something I had to deal with: I’m getting old! Today was quite OK. 1-1 was what I was hoping for. I made work for myself in the first moto but started picking off riders and coming back. I almost made a mistake in the second moto, even if the start was better. The competition is so strong. I’m super-proud of another 1-1 and now up to 107. I’m happy and blessed.”
Results MXGP Netherlands 2024
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 1-1
2. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 2-2
3. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 4-3
Standings MXGP 2024 after 16 of 20 rounds
1. Tim Gajser (SLO), Honda, 801 points
2. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 792
3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 766
