Jeffrey Herlings dominated Lommel and with Lucas Coenen not racing and Romain Febvre’s mechanical in race two, Herlings looks to be onbthe cusp pf a sixth world totle barring a disaste.
The Dutchman was so dominant at Lommel it looked like his MX2 days and he even won moto two with a clutch issue!
Herlings said: “It was a great weekend. Just like last weekend. We were topping every practice and two old shots today. Just didn’t get the plate. I think because I went a bit wide, but Yeah, so two good stars led every single lap and especially first motor was really enjoyable.
“Yeah, I had a little issue in moto two, so I had to reduce my speed, but we kept the distance to 15 seconds average and I could, you know, happy to finish that motor and Yeah, 1-1-1, 60 points, massive points for the championship now. So now it’s being focused. Trying to stay sharp and yeah, you got five more race to go.
“Obviously, we got to really work focus on Honda because on the sand, yeah, we got some work to do, but the team works extremely hard day in, day out and they take it extremely serious. So yeah, we keep we keep fighting hard and trying to get better.”
On his bike issue in moto two, Herlings said he barelt used the clutch all moto! “I think half of the race was still going to go. How do you react to that? Yeah, every finish jump. I was doing a parade. Okay, one more lap. We can get one more lap and then yeah, you try to save the bike as good as you can and it’s also race management, you know, like if 1-1-1 you have to save the tires and yeah, I just had to save the motor and Luckily, I could do it.
“I think if you take my clutch out, it’s brand new. I haven’t even touched it. So Yeah, very thankful. At least I got a good start and was straight up front and I could do my race So like I said, we’re gonna we had we had a problem I can’t deny, you know, like we had a problem at Latvia. We had a problem here So we need to really work hard to to to try to not have this an honor. It will be the last sand race But we keep doing our best. Like I said, the team has my full backing and all the way around as well. They work extremely hard.
Had Herlings even more pace if he needed it?
“The second moto you could see I couldn’t push anymore, I was just trying to finish the race, but that first moto I could do a good speed And I think I maybe one or two seconds left (to push harder) But I didn’t want to take that risk because I didn’t need too, I managed win that moto with 45 seconds still so I like I said, I didn’t I didn’t have to do that.
“I Think Lucas was the guy to beat but you know, he’s hurt he’s not here and but I think even like in the first moto I would have had something for him. I think I could have definitely fight it with him so yeah, hopefully he will be back before the end of the season to have some good battles.
“I felt really good. Like thr first moto was just like really good training right? Because I had no pressure from the back, no-one in front so that was great and yeah, second motor was putting a gap like I think five six seconds, then a 15 second gap but then like I said, I had a little issues. I had to keep that maintenance. I tried to keep a 15 second lead and that’s what we did.”
Herlings elaborated more on the Honda machine saying it’s like a baby! “I’m quite surprised about how the Honda was. Like I said, it’s 17 years on the KTM. I signed blindly with Honda without testing the Honda, so it was a big gamble and luckily it paid off in a good way.
“Plus this is a prototype bike This bike only just is in the shops right now. So it’s like a baby, we still have to make it work. And there’s still some children’s sicknesses in the bike because it’s a brand new bike. The bike Tim road last year had already multiple years on there and a lot of experience and knowledg, so we’re still learning and discovering but the bike just suit is me better. It’s a bit more snappy, The KTM is as a lot of torque, but is a more lazy bike and more harsh the Honda is moving a bit more and it’s much more sharper for the start. That’s something I requested that I needed and the first starts I did I know Giacomo was there as well in Spain, oh wow, this bike is insane!”
“So for me like I took again today two good starts & last weekend in Foxhill. So yeah, my side has improved and put together with the team, we also work extremely hard to do so and I just think this bike suits me realy good. And also on the sand now because beginning of the year we were a bit struggling on the sand but we changed some parts and right now in the sand like today you could see, it’s good and the bike is looking silky smooth.”
