After a long road to recovery from an ACL injury, Jeffrey Herlings finally made his much-anticipated return to the MXGP World Championship – and what a place to do it: the punishing sand of Riola Sardo. Known for its deep, rough terrain and physically demanding layout, it’s a track that has traditionally suited Herlings’ style. But with this being his first GP back, expectations were understandably cautious.
The weekend was always going to be a test – of fitness, of speed, and of how quickly Herlings could re-adapt to the intense pace of Grand Prix racing. The opening moto saw the Dutchman struggle with arm pump and only finish in twentieth, but it was race two where he reminded everyone exactly why he’s a five-time World Champion.
Grabbing a strong start, Herlings wasted no time to get to the front. Within a few laps, he found himself in the lead and began pulling away from the rest of the pack. For a brief moment, it was like he’d never been away – setting the fastest lap of the race and showing flashes of the raw speed that’s made him one of the sport’s greats.
However, the physical toll of Riola – and likely the lack of race sharpness – began to show around the ten-minute mark. Herlings started to fade, eventually dropping back to seventh by the chequered flag. But the result wasn’t the main story – his pace early on proved he’s still got it. With a few more races under his belt and improved race fitness, there’s little doubt he’ll be back at the sharp end.
The Bullet is back which is great to see!
Speaking after the race, Herlings said via KTM’s official press release:
“We decided at the last minute to come to this race and use it as the best practice. Yes, a P20 can hurt but…I think it was just my sixth day on the bike after six months. So, for the circumstances I think it was quite good today. It was the first time I’d done a 35-minute moto! We got some points and finishing 7th in the second moto was quite good. Now just to build and get better every single week. Step-by-step now.”
