Red Bull KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings is being labelled the fastest rider in the world at the moment, and with his victories in Belgium, Switzerland, USA (twice) and Holland, he is clearly the man to beat as we enter the closing stages of 2017.
Last weekend in Assen he went 1-1, and pulled off his 66th Grand Prix victory in his career. We sat down with Herlings after his win, and told us about his Saturday and Sunday in Assen.
You have had five overall victories in six weeks. Does that make it even more difficult with what could have been in 2017?
I missed out on the one in Sweden, when my bike broke, but that is mechanical thing and that happens. I just came too late. When you think at the start of the season, I was fighting for 15th place and nearly getting lapped. I didn’t know if I was going north, south, east or west. We managed to come from a deep hole and came all the way back and we are close to the top of at the top. The first placed guys from first to 15th, they can all podium or win. I might be the first loser of the season, but where we came from we did a really good job.
How was your qualification race last weekend?
It was really good, almost had a holeshot finally, but I was like second or third. I was behind Tim, then I tipped over and Gautier got past me. This track was pretty tough to pass, with all the rain overnight and also yesterday. We got going again, was able to pass Gautier, then had like 10 seconds to Tim. We closed that gap, got around him and pulled away.
How was the track on Saturday with all that rain?
As I said, hard to pass. I hoped they wouldn’t flatten too much, it would be dry on Sunday, and they left it so it was nice and rough. When they flatten it all the time it’s just wide-open racing and not much fun if you don’t get a start.
How was it riding in front of your home fans at the Dutch GP?
It’s awesome to ride in front of my fans. It’s a special event you know, at a road race circuit and I like it. We had bad weather on Saturday and some people didn’t come out, but two champions could be crowned on the Sunday.
Was it important to have the pole position on that track in Assen?
On this track it didn’t really matter, you can pretty much take the holeshot from 10th or 15th. It’s a mental thing, and it’s a race and I had a good practice. The start position didn’t matter so much in Assen.
Jeffrey, how did the Sunday feel winning with a 1-1. How did it feel?
Firstly, I want to thank my team mate Tony, he won his ninth championship today and he was the best all season. Sunday was good, first moto I got a good start, first few turns was difficult, I was back in sixth or something or something because some guys passed me. I managed to get into second and caught Tony and overtake him. The second moto I got wheel spin on the gate, there was some mud on the nets, and came around 10th. I worked my way into first and managed to win, it was a good moto winning with a big gap. My fifth overall and first Dutch win on the big bike.
There were a lot of Dutch fans out there on the Sunday, how did that feel, riding in front of them, because they made a lot of noise?
On this track, a lot of the fans are in the grandstands. I just rolled the last laps and thanked the fans, I really appreciate it. I was happy with second in the championship and good from where we came from.
What are your thoughts on Assen the facility?
Obviously there are rumours that there will be next year, then the Motocross of Nations. It would be nice to get the nations here, if that happens, but it’s just what I heard in the paddock. I enjoy the track, it isn’t that long, like one minute 45 or something. With all the rain, they had they made the most out of it. I really enjoyed riding the track, and not just because I won, but it just felt like a good track, a safe track, but the organization did a good job and a positive turn-out of people.
Ray Archer images
