Earlier in the season at Hawkstone Park, Jeffrey Herlings gave some very complementary comments about Jett Lawrence on his speed and intelligence, telling us in an interview: “One thing is for sure, I’m happy I don’t have to race Jett Lawrence. I don’t think I can match his speed – open and honestly. I don’t think I can match his speed anymore.
“I think on my good days like 2018, maybe I could have. For me he is the fastest guy around, supercross and outdoors. You seen those Instagram wars – Jett V Herlings. He’s faster right now. But one day we have to race each other”.
“I even talked to him on Instagram last year and just said: ‘Man, I’ve got massive respect for you. At your age to be so smart and so good, it’s really impressive.’
After his dominant win under big pressure in Philadelphia, we asked Jett in the press conference what it’s was like to hear Herlings, who has had the Fastest Man on the Planet tag for most of his career, say such complimentary things about the young Aussie – even while he is still racing.
Jett said: “It’s definitely cool to hear that out of an all-time rider like Jeffrey. He has won a lot as you seen in Europe with MXGP. It’s cool that he says that but I still don’t think that – I feel like I still need to earn my spot there. There are still a lot of fast guys in this that can come out with some fast raw speed, but I will take it from him because you don’t get that every day! It’s really cool to hear.”
