Herlings wins with 1-1

Jeffrey Herlings has won the MXGP class at Valkenswaard, making history with his 8^th win at the track, something never done in motocross history (so many wins at a single track). Herlings went 1-1, second was Antonio Cairoli with 2-2 results and third Gautier Paulin.

“Its been a tough one. My start position wasn’t easy, I was sixth or seventh and Tony holeshot and took a big lead. This was a good day to do this at Valkenswaard. It felt like we were going really fast.”

Herlings now has 97pts to Cairoli 91pts in the championship.

Cairoli took the holeshot from Gajser, Van Horebeek, Seewer, Simpson, Febvre, Anstie, Herlings, Paulin, and Desalle 10^th. Lieber was last and Jasikonis back in 23^rd place.

Cairoli is three second ahead and Herlings moved up two places to sixth. After a lap its Cairoli, Van Horebeek, COldenhoff, Gajser, Paulin, Simpson, Herlings, Seewer, Desalle, Strijbos.

Gajser crashed again and landed on his face, but quickly remounted in 20^th place. Herlings into fourth, and Cairoli 10 seconds ahead of the Dutchman. Lieber up to 28^th, and Jasikonis 14^th.

Herlings into third and Cairoli is miles ahead, some 12 seconds ahead of Herlings. After two laps its Cairoli, Coldenhoff, Herlings, Paulin, Simpson, Seewer, Desalle, Anstie, Febvre, and Van Horebeek.

On lap three Herlings into second place and now the chase begins. After the fourth lap the lead was still 12 seconds, and Jasikonis moved into 10^th. Van Horebeek out of the race.

Herlings reeling Cairoli in, as he shows amazing speed in front of his home public. Gajser crashed hard again, and is way back in the field now in 21^st.

On lap six the lead dropped to just eight seconds and the Dutchman was coming after the Italian. Cairoli though worked hard and lost no time on Herlings in lap seven. After seven laps it was Cairoli, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Paulin, Simpson, Anstie, Febvre, Desalle, Seewer and Jasikonis.

The lead was back to nine second as Cairoli shows his hand to the flying Dutchman. Herlings turns it up and is just five seconds behind after nine laps. Cairoli must have made a mistake.

Cairoli ran a little off the track and its just three seconds between the two. Lap 11 and its two seconds between the two. Top ten was Cairoli, Herlings, Coldenhoff, Paulin, Simpson, Anstie, Febvre, Desalle, Seewer and Jasikonis. Lieber into 12^th place, and Bobryshev out of the race.

Herlings all over Cairoli now with a handful of laps to go. Cairoli making mistakes as Herlings once again puts the pressure on the fellow legend. Strijbos into the top ten as Jasikonis drops to 11^th.

Herlings takes the lead easily, but Cairoli isn’t giving up and does his best to stay with Herlings. It seems a hopeless case for the defending world champion. Lieber drops to 31^st and Anstie also has problems standing still on the track and drops to 9^th.

Herlings wins from Cairoli and Paulin.

MXGP - Overall Classification

Pos Nr Rider Nat. Fed. Bike Race 1 Race 2 Total 1 84 Herlings, Jeffrey NED KNMV KTM 25 25 50 2 222 Cairoli, Antonio ITA FMI KTM 22 22 44 3 21 Paulin, Gautier FRA MCM HUS 14 20 34 4 259 Coldenhoff, Glenn NED KNMV KTM 16 18 34 5 461 Febvre, Romain FRA FFM YAM 15 16 31 6 99 Anstie, Max GBR ACU HUS 18 12 30 7 25 Desalle, Clement BEL FMB KAW 13 14 27 8 91 Seewer, Jeremy SUI FMS YAM 11 13 24 9 89 Van Horebeek, Jeremy BEL FMB YAM 20 0 20 10 243 Gajser, Tim SLO AMZS HON 12 7 19