Jeffrey Herlings in beast mode!
Superlatives are not enough for Jeffrey Herlings' tour de force in the first MXGP round in Lommel. Despite the pain in his shoulder blade, the Dutch super champion did so much more than the damage limitations. Herlings won the round with a great display of power.
The Fox holeshot was perfect for Romain Febvre. Pauls Jonass, Jeremy Seewer and Jeffrey Herlings were on his wheel. There was a commotion further down the field. Strijbos fell, but Lars Van Berkel, the returning Michele Cervellin, Dylan Walsh and Todd Kellett also fell. The match couldn't have started worse for Glenn Coldenhoff. Because the engine stopped, he first stopped behind the fence, and was the last to dash away.
Febvre controlled at the front while Herlings moved to P2. Tim Gajser, who was in 5th position at the time, made an early mistake. As if the Lommel sandbox wasn't enough of an ordeal, it also started to rain heavily. A dogged Herlings didn't let it bother him. With ten minutes to go, 'the Bullet' got into Febvre's wheel.
A few minutes later the KTM factory rider delivered the final blow to his rival. Thanks to a masterful overtaking maneuver, Herlings slipped through. Then Febvre's spring broke and Herlings drove away smoothly. Cairoli had a poor start but still gained momentum. Two laps before the end, the nine-time world champion outpaced Jonass and took P3.
The regular Seewer was the best Yamaha rider in fifth. His teammate Glenn Coldenhoff was credited with the recovery of the day. After five laps he was already 12th, eventually 'the Hoff' crossed the line in 9th, albeit ten seconds behind Thomas-Kjer Olsen. It became a long race for Gajser after his fall. The MXGP world champion was knocked back outside the top 10. Ultimately he finished 7th.
MXGP Race 1
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:37.691; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.149; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:36.418; 4. Pauls Jonass (LAT, GASGAS), +0:41.724; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:49.914; 6. Jorge Prado (ESP, KTM), +0:56.529; 7. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:57.895; 8. Thomas Kjer Olsen (DEN, Husqvarna), +1:00.916; 9. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +1:10.924; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:19.128; 11. Brian Bogers (NED, GASGAS), +1:29.092; 12. Ben Watson (GBR, Yamaha), +1:40.563; 13. Shaun Simpson (GBR, KTM), +1:43.351; 14. Alberto Forato (ROCK, GASGAS), +1:46.311; 15. Cyril Genot (BEL, KTM), +1:53.682; 16. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Beta), +1:55.247; 17. Jordi Tixier (FRA, KTM), +2:00.475; 18. Brent Vandoninck (BEL, Yamaha), +2:01.906; 19. Arminas Jasikonis (LTU, Husqvarna), +2:22.356; 20. Lars van Berkel (NED, Honda), -1 lap(s); 21. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 card(s); 22. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Yamaha), -1 card(s); 23. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Yamaha), -1 card(s); 24. Todd Kellett (GBR, Yamaha), -1 card(s); 25. Jeremy Delince (BEL, Honda), -1 lap(s); 26. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Kawasaki), -1 lap(s); 27. Hardi Roosiorg (EST, KTM), -1 lap(s); 28. Vsevolod Brylyakov (MFR, Honda), -1 lap(s); 29. Sven Van der Mierden (NED, GASGAS), -1 lap(s); 30. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KTM), -1 lap(s); 31. Lawrence Locurcio (VEN, KTM), -1 lap(s); 32. Rene De Jong (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 33. Evgeny Bobryshev (MFR, Husqvarna), -6 lap(s); 34. Jimmy Clochet (FRA, Beta), -6 lap(s); 35. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), -9 lap(s); 36. Dylan Walsh (GBR, Kawasaki), -11 lap(s); 37. Henry Jacobi (GER, Honda), -13 lap(s); 38. Michele Cervellin (ITA, Honda), -13 lap(s); 39. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, Yamaha), -15 lap(s);
Photos: Gino Maes
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