Victory at French GP for Herlings

Jeffrey Herlings of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team claimed victory at the French motocross GP. He finished third in the first heat and won the second after an exciting dual with Max Anstie.

Persistent rain had turned the track into a muddy claypit. The first heat of the MXGP class saw dry conditions, but in the second heat, renewed rain made conditions tricky.

In the first heat, Jeffrey started from the outside and slotted into third. Max Anstie forced his way in, and Jeffrey lost a few spots, dropping to 8th. He regained his rhythm after a while and moved forward. He passed a fallen Jeremy van Horebeek, and then also got the better of Gautier Paulin and Glenn Coldenhoff. He posted the fastest lap of the race on his way to hauling in Anstie. By then the leaders were too far gone, and he finished third.

Jeffrey grabbed the holeshot in race two, but Anstie soon came by. Jeffrey kept him in sight, but a small crash dropped him back some ten seconds, which he had to close up. He did so within two laps, and after a titanic tussle, he passed Anstie. Jeffrey won the race and the Grand Prix.

Jeffrey was already secure in second place in the world standings coming into the race. After an early season hand injury, he recovered to win 12 heats and six Grands Prix in his debut season.

Overall MXGP France:
1 Jeffrey Herlings 45 pnt
2 Tim Gajser 45 pnt
3 Max Anstie 40 pnt
4 Romain Febvre 40 pnt
5 Gautier Paulin 31 pnt