Photos by: Ray Archer

Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has a pretty exciting event coming up. The Red Bull Knock Out, which is run long the Dutch coast-line is very much a race that attracts massive crowds and is considered the biggest most demanding beach race in the world.

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On November 19 the three times MX2 world champion will go head to head with fellow Red Bull KTM Factory rider, MXoN team-mate and fellow Dutchman, Glen Coldenhoff. If you want to see the best sand rider in the world in action, then get to Scheveningen to witness something really special.

We caught up with Herlings this morning and did this two part interview. His expectations for the Red Bull Knock Out, his 2016 season and what to expect when he moves up to the MXGP class in 2017. A pretty good read, so enjoy.

 

Jeffrey, can you tell me what you expect from the Red Bull Knock Out?

It’s a big event for Red Bull and they really want me to do it. It is a great opportunity and it’s a really good event in Holland. It is also a big event with a lot of media, and it’s in the sand, so I think it will be good.

Jeffrey, along with his KTM teammates Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin, went 1-2-3 at SMX Cup.
Jeffrey, along with his KTM teammates Ryan Dungey and Marvin Musquin, went 1-2-3 at SMX Cup.

From memory last year you just did a lap around the circuit didn’t you?

Yes, I did one lap around the track and I had just come back from my hip injury, so my second day on the bike and I did one quick lap for Red Bull and social media. I didn’t race but I am looking forward to racing this year.

 

As you mentioned, it’s a massive race in Holland. Seeing it last year, and not being able to race it, how was that? Are you excited for this race?

Definitely, because when I saw it I thought, man, I wish I could race this race. It’s a long race, deep sand, like an enduro race. There is a lot of people on the track at the same time. There are professionals, there are amateurs, and people who only race maybe a couple of times a year, so the level is very different. It’s a little dangerous, but at the same time it’s half motocross, half enduro and I am looking forward to it. It would be great to win there.

How has preparation been for this event?

Straight after the SMX Cup we have been training for it. Riding like two hours, or sometimes more. Just emptying the fuel tank and going again, to get the endurance for it.

 

Looking at the straight, its massive. How long is that straight and what type of speeds do you get up to there?

Apparently its going to be 2.5km, and I think around 180kl per hour. I am not sure if my official race bike will be ready, at the moment I am just riding a normal bike. They said we should reach around 180, something like that.

Jeffrey won a moto and the Open class overall at the 2016 MXoN in Italy.
Jeffrey won a moto and the Open class overall at the 2016 MXoN in Italy.

What is that going to be like?

Scary man, it’s going to be scary. With so many people riding at that speed, if something goes wrong, at that speed, then you will have bad day.

 

On another subject. Talking about your form at the MXoN and the SMX Cup. Obviously at the MXoN you were the guy. At the SMX early it looked like Gajser was the quickest guy, but you showed throughout the evening that you were very quick. Coming back from the back, and winning that final race. How excited are you for next year with that type of form? I think everyone is excited for next year.

Everyone has been waiting for this moment for a couple of years, Herlings moving up to the 450, so see how I do. It brings a lot of pressure, but I am so excited to race. So many people are saying once I get off the 250 I won’t be the same, that the 450 is too tough, and I can’t wait to prove those people wrong. I am not saying I am going to win, and I know it won’t be easy, because Febvre, Gajser and Cairoli, those guys are on their game, and I know it will be tough, but after going to the des Nations, and I just had three or four days on the bike. I won my qualification, I won the final moto and I went 2-1 for the day. I won my class overall, and we nearly won the event with Team Holland. At the SMX Cup I definitely had some bad luck. First race I got in contact with Febvre and we both went down and I could only finish fifth, second moto holeshot and crashed, but came from last to fifth and then last moto came from 10th to first, so I think I had the fastest speed of anyone. We have now had more testing and improving the speed and I am definitely looking forward to Qatar. I think it will be a good event and it’s a long series, we went from 18 rounds to 20, so a long, long season, but I can’t wait for the gate to drop.

 

There is talk that the 450 will be more dangerous than the 250, but I would think the 250 is actually more dangerous for you, because you have to override that thing and because of your weight. How do you see it?

I think the riding part, it will be easier, obviously the competition will be stronger, but riding wise, I was heavy, and my starts were not always great. I mean I got the holeshot sometimes, but often I had to fight my way through from 10th or 5th or whatever. I think now, weight isn’t an issue. I mean I would prefer to be like Cairoli, he’s like 67 instead of 80, but I think we will be more solid on the bigger bike. The competition will be stronger, and you have to be really consistent in the MXGP class and to be at every race is a big thing. In this sport, it’s difficult to always be healthy and always on the gate, but we will see.

 

Do you think the fact the competition so strong is, that that might actually make you mentally stronger and more focused? You used to go into the MX2 class and know anything other than first was not good enough, but in MXGP a second or third is acceptable. Does that make you sharper mental wise?

Look at Gajser, in the middle of the season and he was winning everything andt then suddenly everyone was like, he’s not winning anymore, he’s not doing good. At the start of the season everyone expected if he was top five he would be doing great. If you are winning and winning, then you don’t win, everyone is like, oh, look, he isn’t in good shape, he’s going down and I think that is the wrong way to look at it. I think this year if I went to the gate it was like, what is up with Herlings, but sometimes I had an off day or somebody rode well, but I won 14 GP’s and finished second in the other, so I was very consistent, but next year it isn’t realistic to expect that. The MXGP class everyone is so strong and fit, so many good guys. I think even speed doesn’t mean anything, you can have the speed, but you need to also be consistent. This year some guys fell out and some guys got hurt, something always happens. I think the key for winning the championship next year is to be consistent.

The three teammates congratulate each other after the SMX Cup main event last month.
The three teammates congratulate each other after the SMX Cup main event last month.

You talked about being consistent and not taking too many risks, but maybe not expecting a win all the time, but that must be a tough balance, because we all know you want to win all the time. How tough is it to balance that and think more about the big picture than the GP win?

Its tough, I think there will be four, maybe five guys going for the win. There will be Febvre, Gajser, maybe Cairoli and me, and at the end of the day, we all want to win, but only one guy can win. With so many heavy-hitters in the class now, it’s going to be tough. If you think about a couple of years ago everyone was like Cairoli, Villopoto, Cairoli, Villopoto, but Nagl ended up winning and nobody expected that. You never know, but I think going into 2017 I think it’s between four or five guys, but in 2015 nearly all the top five guys got injured and the most surprising thing was Febvre winning the championship, while nobody expected him to win it. In this sport many crazy things can happen.

 

I did an interview with Arnaud Tonus and we talked about the riders who have been able to race with you in the past. And he mentioned that riding at that level, is really difficult week after week. He is a very good rider, does it give you a good feeling that a rider of his quality says something like that?

I think so, you know Arnaud has had some serious bad luck in his career, with injuries and other things. obviously he’s been to the US, but he is one of the most talented riders in the paddock. I have known him for a long time, if you could see what that guy can do on a bike on a motorcycle, it’s pretty special. He is still one of the best in the world with his technique and the speed he can carry. I think what is says is nice and it’s also true. If you look at my results from the last four of five years, I have a pretty good percentage rate for wins. I have always been consistent and I hope to keep that ball rolling.

 

Since the two USGP’s in Charlotte and Glen Helen and you move to the MXGP class, it seems like the opinion from people on social media, or the forums has changed a lot. it is more positive now and all that stuff about sandbagger and whatever is forgotten. Do you notice that and is it a nice feeling.

People always have things to say about you and a lot of negative things. It’s easy to sit behind a computer and write negative things about somebody they have never met, be it me or somebody else. I think you shouldn’t go to the forums too much. I mean I go there sometimes, read the positive and negative comments. Some riders really have trouble with it, but I try and just get stronger from it. I mean I’ve read it all, I am not number one, I only won MX2 championships because I didn’t race the US guys, or whatever. I mean when I went to the US I wanted to prove them wrong and I beat Webb in one moto and beat Jeremy Martin in two moto’s. I think it also showed something and you can’t get everyone on the same line, the good with the bad.

 

What is your schedule now until Qatar?

Obviously the Red Bull Knock Out on November 19, so we are preparing for that, then I will take a couple of weeks off and start preparing for Qatar. We will put the hammer down and work our butts off until Qatar. I am super motivated and it’s a new goal for me and I have never had this much motivation to go and win there. I want to work hard and be consistent.

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Click to check out what’s new at Race Tech

You mention you wanted to try and be more aggressive, like the American riders are. are you working on that in the off-season?

Not at the moment, because we are working on endurance for the Red Bull Knock Out, but I am going to work on that after seeing how good the American riders are in those early laps. I mean Austin Forkner, he put some crazy laps down and I think that is something all the Europeans, or at least I can.

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