Heroic or crazy?!
The dust settles slowly. It is not Jeffrey Herlings who has won his third world title, but Jordi Tixier who has claimed his first world title in Mexico! The Dutch motocross enthusiast is in deep mourning.
We all already know where it went wrong. Jeffrey Herlings was a little too enthusiastic about the 'Everts & Friends Charity' competition. Not on his usual MX2 machine, but on an 85cc machine. For a moment, 'The Bullit' from Elzendorp showed his immature side. The will to win, even if this is 'only' against Roan van de Moosdijk, is apparently greater than the common sense to chill out for a bit. After a jump that did not turn out as it should, the two-time MX2 world champion broke his femur.
A race against time immediately began for the leader of the 'Factory KTM' team. Only a few more points were needed to become world champion, but could JH84 still finish ahead of Jordi Tixier? Could he still be in action in 2014?! KTM and Jeffrey Herlings said yes! The Dutchman went to Red Bull's rehabilitation center where they worked hard on a comeback. They were working on something impossible, 'the bullit' would have to pulverize the normal rehabilitation time of about six months! Not six months but just under 2 months, that was the time Jeffrey had and was given.
We worked hard, we worked very hard. Jordi Tixier came closer and closer. In the run-up to the penultimate Grand Prix in Brazil, everyone was fully expecting Herlings to get the green light to participate in Brazil? The answer was no! An infection had delayed healing and the leg was far from growing together. Was the Grand Prix in Mexico still a possibility?! Intimates told us without hesitation: No!! When he starts, Jeffrey's further career is played with.
Yet the Dutchman stunned his intimates and all of us by showing himself on the Dutch training course on Wednesday and Thursday. But already on Thursday a new impact on the leg causes further injuries. So we travel with a very weak leg. A journey that ended the way it did. A trip that, in retrospect, turned out to be irresponsible. Both KTM management and Jeffrey Herlings himself have enjoyed a brilliant career. Let's add this, had this story had a happy ending no one would have given a f*ck about the risks incurred. In addition, he would without a doubt have become 'brick of the century', although of course he is now too!
Text: Matthias Van Eeckhoven – Photo: Facebook
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