Herlings “not concerned” by the fracture of the collarbone
Last week we received sensational news that MX2 World Championship leader Jeffrey Herlings had broken his collarbone during the Dutch championship in Halle. This news seemed so unbelievable because the Red Bull KTM rider already lost a title in 2014 and 2015 due to injuries. Despite this setback, 21-year-old Herlings already had a very excellent season and has already undergone surgery and a plate was attached to the fracture. It will only be decided during this week whether he will participate in Loket for the Grand Prix of the Czech Republic.
Herlings had a small crash in Halle, but again broke the bone he also broke during the German Grand Prix last summer (then he was back on the bike two weeks later in Sweden). This new fracture is largely due to the condition of the bone itself, which was already weakened by the fall in Teutschenthal 2015.
“It was a strange high-side crash that wasn't particularly fast at all,” he describes. “When I got up I knew straight away that my collarbone was broken, but it was also explained to me that it was the same fracture as last year. The bone was somewhat fragile because it was already bent after the plate was removed at the end of the season. I had it done so I could start training again with strength exercises on my shoulder.”
The rider, who is still undefeated in the GPs this year, immediately had surgery to solve this problem and now it is being considered whether he can start the Czech adventure on July 23-24. “I have an appointment with the doctor next week and we will make a decision then,” he said. “I could ride for one or two days, but we'll see. I already have more bad than good memories of Loket. I now have a lead of almost 170 points, so almost four games and we only have to play six more, so I don't want to come back too hastily and too quickly. Lommel is the next weekend and that gives me an extra week to ride.”
Herlings does not have a particularly happy history on the hard-pack circuit of Loket. In addition to the world title he won there in 2013, he dislocated his shoulder in 2010 and then also dislocated his hip in 2015, which also cost him the world title that year. When we asked him about the uncertainty of the situation and the fitness that this injury might pose a problem to his quest to win that third world title. “Last year I made a stupid mistake by pushing too hard and that won't happen again,” he emphasizes. “I've had this injury before and I know what it feels like. A broken collarbone normally doesn't last that long, so I'm not worried. It's not like a broken femur that immediately ends your season.”
Now that he is moving to the MXGP in 2017, Herlings hopes to continue his dominance in 2016 in the other European races after Loket with Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands. He now has a lead of 169 points over Suzuki rider Jeremy Seewer and has also won 23 of 24 series. The fourteenth Grand Prix of the season will take place in the deep sand of Lommel and it is expected that Herlings will be back on his 250SX-F.
Original: Adam Wheeler – ontrackoffroad.com – Dutch Version: @Kris…
Photo: KTM
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