Postitive Return To GP Racing For Jeffrey Herlings

Jeffrey Herlings of the Red Bull KTM Factory Team made a positive return to GP racing. Herlings finished fourth overall at Orlynok, Russia  with fourth- and seventh place finishes in the two heats of the MXGP class.

The Orlyonok track is extremely treacherous with a concrete-hard underground. It is not Jeffrey’s favourite track, but he decided to go to the event any way to build up race rhythm.  Starting his 2019 GP season in Russia, his qualifying day was not without its challenges. He was laying fourth in the qualifying heat when he crashed hard, and as a consequence he finished only 16th.

Despite, this, Herlings was determined to show some of his old form during Sunday’s races. A good start in the first race got him into the top five. Despite some pressure from other riders, he held his position well and actually moved up to fourth before the flag fell.  In the second race, Jeffrey had a less positive start. He was riding in tenth place for a long while, but with a finishing spurt he got up to seventh.

“I’ve returned from a very serious injury, and that is always difficult to do, mentally as well as physically.  I suffered a lot of pain for a long time,  I honestly did not expect the result we got here today. To be close to the podium feels really good under the circumstances.  I love the track at Latvia that we’re going to next, but again, I’m not going there with any pre-set expectations. I’m not forgetting the long road I’ve had to travel.  If it’s within the realm of possibilities, we’ll fight for a podium finish,”he said.

Jeffrey is off to Kegums next for the Latvian GP next weekend.

Results MXGP Russia:
1 Tim Gajser 50 Pnt
2 Arnaud Tonus 44 Pnt
3 Jeremy Seewer 36 Pnt
4 Jeffrey Herlings 32 Pnt
5 Romain Febvre 32 Pnt

Standings MXGP 2019:
1 Tim Gajser 351 Pnt
2 Antonio Cairoli 338 Pnt
3 Gautier Paulin 231 Pnt
4 Jeremy Seewer 220 Pnt
5 Arminas Jasikonis 212 Pnt
24 Jeffrey Herlings 32 Pnt