Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings has put together a sand riding masterclass as he completely dominated the Red Bull Knock Out, on the Dutch beach of Scheveningen.
The three times MX2 world champion was at times more than 10 seconds a lap quicker than his competition, and never once looked like having trouble. He lapped up to fourth place, and led home two other Red Bull KTM Factory riders Nathan Watson and Glenn Coldenhoff.
Jeffrey Herlings: Its been good, obviously with the half final the track was flat, but as it got rough I got better. We did a great job as a team. We are not specialists in this type of racing. I had great racing and I showed I am number one. I started at motocross speed at the final, it was like a Grand Prix, and I pulled a gap and went from there. This is the toughest beach race in the world. I think when I hit my bed tonight I will sleep straight away.
Nathan Watson: Obviously Jeffrey is the sand king and I found something I didn’t know I had. I didn’t expect to get second with all these good riders. I haven’t ridden the 450 that much, but it’s fantastic. The X loop was difficult, but I found some good lines. 1.45 around the roughest track in the world, it was unbelievable. I am so happy. Sometimes when back markers were in the way I got through, and Glenn and I battled for a couple of laps and that was a lot of fun.
Glen Coldenhoff: It was early at 9am when we started, and a two hour moto, it was tough, that last 45 minutes was really difficult. The X Loop and the last two laps I didn’t enjoy. I had a good fight with Nathan, and my goal was to finish on the box. I only did two weeks of practice and I knew that wasn’t enough. I am happy with a podium. I was really tired, I am honest. It’s the toughest beach race in the world and it felt like that. Of course, we knew that Jeffrey is the fastest man in the sand and we all knew that. Three KTMs on the box, so that’s good.
In front of around 100,000 fans, and with 750 riders blasting out of the start, under overcast weather, it was just madness as the competitors were hitting ridiculous speeds, around 180 km per hour down the start straight.
Chapeliere took the holeshot, and it looked like Herlings was in around 10th place.
Within a few corners it was Herlings who had the lead, with Axel Van Der Sanden, Steve Ramon and Glenn Coldenhoff in second, third and fourth places. Coldenhoff took second place as they entered he first lap. Herlings is gone in the lead.
Just madness how many riders on this sand track. After one lap it was Herlings, Coldenhoff, Van Der Sanden, Ramon and Van Berkel.
Anyone who loves watching a rider control a bike, then it’s pure bliss watching Herlings in the sand, beautiful to watch.
Already after just one lap Herlings is working his way through the back-markers.
After two laps Herlings lead was 19 seconds. During the qualification race Herlings was 10 seconds a lap quicker than everyone else per lap. Ramon moved into third place.
Coldenhoff looked good in second place, but was 36 seconds behind Herlings after a handful of laps. After 30 minutes riding Herlings lead went to 40 seconds.
Herlings still looked brilliant as he worked his way through the traffic, and takes a quick pit stop for fuel and remained in the lead. This kid is just simply unbelievable.
Herlings lead after the pit stop was still 30 seconds, unbelievable. Nathan Watson up to 6th place, and Moffat and McCanney 8th and 9th.
Herlings bike was swapping all over the place on the long start straight, but he just kept it pinned.
With an hour to go, Herlings leads Coldenhoff, Ramon, Van Der Sanden, Renaux, Watson, Chaleliere, Moffat, McCanney and Verhoeven.
Watson up to fifth place and heading towards a podium position. Three Brits in the top ten. Coldenhoff takes a pit stop and Ramon moved into second place. The Belgian carrying a bigger fuel tank, thus meaning he can pit later.
Herlings lead over Ramon is a minute, and the Dutchman looks brilliant as he continues to push his KTM to the limit.
After nine laps Herlings lead continued to be extended and with around 11 laps still to go, anything could happen. Coldenhoff is right onto Ramon, as the young Dutchman chases the veteran Belgian.
McCanney seemed out of the race as his bike failed to start in the pits, he dropped out of the top ten. Watson moved to fourth place, and Moffat also dropped out of the top ten and struggled in 25th place.
Watson was right on the back wheel of Coldenhoff, as he looked to move into third place. Brilliant as Watson passed Coldenhoff down the massive long straight. Soon after though Watson pitted, as the same time as second placed man Ramon.
With 45 minutes to go, it was Herlings in front, as Coldenhoff nearly crashed while trying to pass a slower rider. Coldenhoff moved into second, with Watson third and Ramon back in fourth place. A really close battle between second, third and fourth places.
The riders entered the very tricky last stages of the race Herlings lead was two minutes, and he led the riders into the X-Loop, which is the most difficult stage of the race.
Watson was catching Coldenhoff, and Ramon was catching Watson. Drama about to begin. Soon after Watson moved past Coldenhoff, as the British rider started to look really strong. Yellow flags everywhere as Coldenhoff fights through traffic, and tries to keep with Watson.
Coldenhoff moves past Watson in a corner, and Watson takes Coldenhoff back down the big straight. Clearly the British rider is willing to keep it wide open longer than the Dutchman.
Coldenhoff though is keeping close to Watson. Up front Herlings continued to look strong. Coldenhoff made a massive jump to try and close up on Watson. The Enduro guy versus the MX guy.
Coldenhoff once again passed Watson, but in the logs the enduro guy is too quick through the logs and moved away from Coldenhoff.
Top ten with 25 minutes to go it was Herlings, Watson, Coldenhoff, Ramon, Van Der Sanden, Renaux, Chaleliere, Brossier, Florin and Martens.
Brilliant action as Watson and Coldenhoff go head to head down the big straight, after cutting each other up in the last corner of the lap. Coldenhoff then pitted, and lost a lot of ground on Watson.
With eight minutes to go it was Herlings, Watson, Coldenhoff, Ramon, Van De Sanden, Renaux, Chapeliere, Brossier, Florin, and Martins.
On the last lap Herlings lapped fourth place to save Ramon doing an extra lap. Herlings wins it from Watson and Coldenhoff, a Red Bull KTM podium monopoly.
Red Bull Knock Out – Top Ten
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
2. Nathan Watson (KTM)
3. Glenn Coldenhoff (KTM)
4. Steve Ramon (Suzuki)
5. Axel Van de Sande (Yamaha)
6. Maxime Renaux
7. Camille Chapeliere
8. Victor Brossier
9. Daymond Martens
10. Timothee Florin
