After fifteen months of injury, Jeffrey Herlings is back. The motocross racer from Oploo rode his first official race last weekend and will make his comeback in the MXGP in a week and a half. Herlings is fit, he’s fresh in the head, a little wiser and maybe a little more careful. What has not changed: he is still full of guts and ambition and wants to become world champion again.
Herlings is relaxed and cheerful, because he can finally get back to the big work. The injuries, including a broken heel, are a thing of the past. It takes some getting used to, but the good feeling is coming back. The fun splashes off again at the training.
“This is really nice,” says the motocross racer, “because lying on the couch for a year really hurts. Of course I’ve thought about quitting, but that didn’t last long. I’ve known since childhood that this is part of It’s frustrating, but the will to continue and win is greater.”
“I shouldn’t be acting like a madman.”
Last weekend Jeffrey Herlings made his comeback in the Hawkstone Park International. He came fourth in England. “Normally I’m already pissed off with a second place, so let alone with a fourth,” the driver grins. “But of course there is a reason. It wasn’t good, but it certainly wasn’t bad either. You can expect this if you haven’t been riding at the highest level for so long.”
“In training, the speed and fitness is definitely there,” he continues. “I have to get used to the competition conditions again. To be in a fight with everyone.”
It’s actually against his nature, but Herlings knows he has to take things slow in MXGP. “I won’t even be on the podium for the first three races,” he suspects. “I just have to get into competition rhythm and then the results will come automatically. And not be the tough guy and go crazy, because then a one-way ticket to the hospital will soon be there again.”
“If I come home in one piece every weekend, I have a better chance of winning the world title.”
Herlings has thought it through and is doing things smarter. It is also not necessary to immediately give full throttle, because due to new regulations, the coming season will have no less than sixty rounds that will yield points for the world championship.
“It’s going to be a long and tough season,” Herlings realizes. “I will have to choose not to necessarily win every weekend. It is sometimes better to make sure that I come home in one piece and be there every weekend. Then I have a better chance of winning the world title.”
Because that of course remains the goal for someone of the stature of Jeffrey Herlings. The conditions are good, because the driver recently extended his contract with KTM for two years and that brings peace. “There are a lot of top players this season, but I’m definitely a favorite,” he says. “My goal is to blast in MXGP for the next three years and hopefully win another world title.”
But with a little more policy. Starting on March 12 at the first Grand Prix in Argentina. “I may have to let some battles run,” concludes Jeffrey Herlings. “But the will is there to eventually win the war.”
