Jeffrey Herlings stays second in the world championship MXGP standings
An overdue and welcome return to Switzerland and some of the most vocal and enthusiastic fans in Europe awaited MXGP on Easter weekend. Round three gathered under bright but temperate conditions at Frauenfeld northeast of Zurich and around a rough and demanding new layout for the Grand Prix. Frauenfeld had previously staged MXGP dates in the middle of the last decade but had not hosted the series since 2018.
Jeffrey Herlings came to the meeting after claiming his 100th career victory in Sardinia two weeks previously and then after victorious outings in domestic events in Europe in a quest to build-up his race speed and conditioning even further. The 28-year-old rode to 3rd place in Saturday’s RAM Qualification Heat and then waited until Monday’s motos to secure to a 6th and a 4th for 4th on the day and dealt with a rough, quick and potentially treacherous surface with a composed approach despite suffering with arm-pump.
There will be little time to dwell on round three as MXGP pushes directly onto the fourth appointment of the campaign next weekend. Another bumper and expectant crowd are expected to flock to the hard-packed, slick but spectacular setting of Pietramurata in Arco di Trento for the Grand Prix of Trentino.
Jeffrey Herlings, 6th and 4th for 4th overall in MXGP: “I had a good gatepick after Saturday but the break in the schedule didn’t help me much. I felt a bit tight today and although I had a good start in the first moto I had some arm-pump and went backwards. It was a shame. I took the points. It was not a great weekend but not a bad one. I’ll look forward now to Arco next weekend and work from there.”
Results MXGP Switzerland 2023
1. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 2-1
2. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 1-3
3. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 3-2
4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 6-4
5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED), Yamaha, 4-7
Standings MXGP 2023 after 3 of 19 rounds
1. Jorge Prado (ESP), GASGAS, 155 points
2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED), Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 134
3. Maxime Renaux (FRA), Yamaha, 131
4. Romain Febvre (FRA), Kawasaki, 129
5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED), Yamaha, 101
