Courtesy of Youthstream
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings might have left the MX2 class for the bigger MXGP class, but he will still enjoy watching the younger riders going around in MX2 in 2017.
While his MX2 career ended with a trio of titles, and 61 GP wins, the Dutchman feels, that his departure has made the 250cc class a lot more exciting, and he wouldn’t like to pick a winner in a class full of amazing talent.
“I think it’s open who wins the MX2 title. Now I think the doors are open for a bunch of guys, it can be Jorge Prado, can be Benoit Paturel, Jeremy Seewer, even Brian Bogers man, there are so many guys with the potential to win a moto or a GP now. Anything can happen, in 2015 it was meant to be between myself and Jordi Tixier and we both got injured, and Gajser ended up winning it. Also the year before with me and Tonus. It’s hard to be fit for the whole season, it’s such a long season. Prado has an advantage because he is light and he is a good starter and with a good start you can stay out of the injury zone.”
The three times MX2 champion isn’t that surprised that the MX2 class has only one former GP winner in it, and with a smile he was quick to point out why.
“That’s because I stole all the GP wins man (laughing). I won 61 GP wins, and one of the best 250 riders in the history, but now with me gone, everyone is like Herlings is gone. It’s pretty special that only one guy has won a GP and that is Covington. All the rest of the guys are going to get some wins.”
When asked if he will watch the MX2 motos this year, his answer was quick, and to the point. Despite a busy MXGP schedule and him making his debut in the class, Herlings is still a fan of the sport, and knows that the wild youth in the MX2 class will make for some great racing.
“For sure, I mean they are all young guys, and when the gate drops they just go all out. By the end of the moto they used to fall like flies, but at the beginning of the moto they went crazy. I think MXGP is more calm and a lot of the top guys have already had big injures, but somebody like Prado, he is young, he hasn’t had any big injuries and he doesn’t really understand the risk maybe. Because of that the level will get higher and higher. We are all a bit longer, like Cairoli, Strijbos, Searle, those guys are like between 25 and 35 so they have had big injuries and the mind-set gets different.”