Jeffrey Herlings is aiming for Stefan Everts' record
Red Bull KTM rider Jeffrey Herlings celebrated his 96th victory of his career last weekend in Spain, coming close to the record of 101 held by Stefan Everts. In terms of number of GP victories, 'The Bullet' is already the second most successful rider in the history of the sport, having previously surpassed teammate Tony Cairoli.
Cairoli has already won 93 GPs in his career. Antonio Cairoli can theoretically add another five victories, but that is not very realistic. He would have to be better than Herlings, Gajser and Febvre, who are involved in an intense battle for the world title. Moreover, the Sicilian will conclude his successful career on November 10 during the Grand Prix of Citta di Mantova. The helmet is finally hung up after the second series.
Jeffrey Herlings has added six victories to his list of achievements in 2021 alone, five of which came in the last six rounds of the current championship. He collected more than 60% of his wins in the MX2 class. The Dutchman won four world titles in the past, so the comparison with Stefan Everts gives a completely different picture. This of course has to do with the many injuries that Herlings sustained. Whether Herlings can ever win ten world titles is currently out of the question, but without those injuries it would certainly have been possible.
These are figs after Easter, but Herlings was always involved in a battle for the world title when he had to be sidelined with an injury. He can now look at the numbers of his former mentor Everts and know that the goal is achievable, especially with two more years in the colors of Red Bull KTM ahead of him.
"It's definitely getting closer” he grinned. In theory, Herlings could reach the milestone this year if he wins all five remaining GPs. The thought gave the Dutchman reason to smile again. “It's not realistic", he said, "but if we can get one, two or three more, hopefully we will succeed next year."
Tekst: Danny Hermans and Adam Wheeler
Photos: Ray Archer and archive
Also to read
List of participants MXGP of Galicia in Lugo
The sixth MXGP of this year will be held in Lugo, Spain this weekend. After the Portuguese mud bath of Agueda, the World Cup toppers will have a different kind of circuit under the…Test: Polisport's unbreakable levers
Brake and clutch levers have sometimes broken off in a crash, but it has never been different. Polisport has thought deeply about this subject and now has an unbreakable lever on the…Jens Walvoort about his Portuguese Grand Prix
In Agueda, Jens Walvoort managed to make a big impression during the fifth Grand Prix of the season. The KTM rider finished sixth in the daily rankings, Walvoort is now sixteenth...EnduroGP: Interview Jamie McCanney
Manxman Jamie McCanney made EnduroGP history last year by winning the E1 in Slovakia as a privateer. The 29-year-old veteran has had a long and illustrious career, but…
Your reactions