Photos by: Ray Archer
Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings answered a question last weekend at the Milan Show and the context of his answer has mixed reaction from the media, MotoXAddicts included. When asked how he felt about 2016 he mentioned that he would try and get the championship back, thus we thought he meant the MX2 title back. It turns out that isn’t the case.
We decided to call Herlings up and ask him if he in fact was staying in the MX2 class, or in fact still considered moving up to the MXGP class.
Jeffrey, last week in Milan you mentioned you would try and get the championship back, and the interviewer also mentioned how tough the MX2 class will be, and how many titles KTM have won in the class. It seems that you still haven’t actually made the decision which class you will do?
It was a difficult question and they said something like no pressure for you in 2016, so it wasn’t a confirmation that I will race in MX2 or go to MXGP, it was a question and now everyone says I will stay in MX2. I fly to Austria on Wednesday and I will have a talk with and Red Bull, Pit and Smets and some big guys in the sport and we will make a decision, but for now nothing is decided.
How difficult is it to make that decision?
Obviously I would love to race the 450 guys, but at the same time I have something to prove in the MX2 class. Winning two titles in the last two years should have been possible, but due to injuries I didn’t win. I still want to win another MX2 championship, that was always my goal, but of course I don’t want to be a pussy and not move up to the MXGP guys and battle the big guns.
Do you favor one class over the other in your head at the moment?
It is a mixed feeling, everyone keeps asking and making such a big deal out of it, but whatever class I stay in it will be racing in Europe either on the 250 or the 450, to be honest I don’t know what the big deal is. People are making such a big deal about it. We make the decision in the next two weeks.
You know I am a big fan of yours and if you want to stay in the MX2 class then you are entitles to do that and deserve to make that decision, but as a fan, and I am guessing a majority of the fans and maybe even yourself think the same, we would love to see you on the 450. With Gajser moving up, does that put pressure on you to move up?
I think for Gajser it’s a different situation. He also knows had I not got injured I would have won the title, I had a 150 point lead when I got hurt. If he stayed in MX2 and lost the title to me, it’s a failure, but if he moves to MXGP, and goes third or fifth or 10th, it’s good. When you win the championship and then lose it, it’s different to winning it and defending it. I won it and defended it, then won it again and defended it, I was 145 points in the lead and broke my femur, then the following year I was 150 points ahead and again lost it because of injury. It isn’t easy.
What is the situation with the seeing the doctor and getting an answer from him?
I am going to see the doctor this week and find out when I can start riding, hopefully I can start riding again this week then we make a decision. This is the point everyone is waiting for and to see which class I do.
I am guessing if the doctor tells you that you can’t ride yet, and you can’t start preparing for MXGP straight away, that it will more than likely be the MX2 class in 2016?
Definitely. When you go to MXGP you need a solid three months to prepare, totally healthy and have a good preparation. I showed in MX2 last year I hadn’t ridden the bike in seven months and I won the first round. So it’s a lot easier to prepare for MX2 than MXGP and I need time on the bike. Of course MX2 is weaker, but it shouldn’t be looked like a weak class, there are a lot of really good young riders moving up and MX2 shouldn’t be underestimated. It isn’t easy winning championships, it isn’t as easy as it looks.
You came into the season not 100% and you made a lot of mistakes and ok some of the mistakes were not your mistakes, but you still made a lot of mistakes. Recovering from those injuries must take a lot from your mind. Do you feel that happens because your off-season wasn’t a good one?
Yes, 100%. I think most of the things was because of my winter preparation. I had like nine days to prepare for Qatar and it was god’s miracle that I could ride in Qatar. I had so much muscle pain from riding because I had hardly ridden all off season. I didn’t have time for a break, and it was falling from one hole to another and the hole got deeper and deeper until I finally really hurt myself bad.
What about the MXGP class. Even if you don’t move up there are like five former world champions in the class.
This year if you look at the season nobody expected Febvre and Gajser being crowned world champions. Last season was crazy, and if everyone stays healthy in 2016 it’s going to be a great season. Everyone is going faster and they are stronger and the tracks are getting faster and the crashes will be bigger. Hopefully everyone stays healthy in 2016.
How are KTM with the decision? Do they have any input into your decision, Pit or Joel, do they have anything to say about your decision, or do they leave it up to you?
Like I said, the press have been talking about it so much, but Pit and I haven’t even talked about it so much. I have been thinking about it, but it’s up to what the doctors says, and I know KTM are like family I have been with them for like seven years. The decision will be a team decision.
