Dutchman Jeffery Herlings dominated the eighth round of 2023 MXGP in Latvia, taking his Red Bull Factory KTM bike to conquer the wet, fast, rough and sand-like terrain around the Zelta Zirgs course.
Herlings clinched both motos with authority while team-mate Andrea Adamo was fourth overall in the MX2 class and remains one of the main pursuers of the leader’s red number plate in the MX2 championship standings, now being held by Dutch Husqvarna rider Kay de Wolf, who won both MX2 class races at Kegums.
Former MX2 championship leader Jago Geerts (Yamaha), of Belgium, was a non-starter at the weekend due to injury.
The motocross world championships arrived at what is one of the most consistent venues on the FIM Motocross World Championship slate as the Grand Prix of Latvia was once more hosted by the expansive Zelta Zirgs circuit in Kegums.
The hard ground with a soft and sandy top layer was again tricky for the riders due to the mix between rough but slippery sections and the overcast and rainy conditions.
Herlings was the standout performer on Saturday as he took pole position in the qualification race; his first Saturday qualifying race win of the season.
On Sunday, Herlings chased Jorge Prado (GasGas) and dealt with period of arm-pump as well as a small crash before dropping his lap-times and passing the Spaniard to win the first moto.
The weather was at its worst just ahead of the second race but Herlings, who has finished on the podium three times in his last three appearances at Kegums, set a steady pace in third and the blitzed to the front with three laps to go and as some belated sunshine appeared.
The most successful Grand Prix winner of all-time (now up to 103) is still chasing rival Prado in the 2023 series standings and is now just 15 points behind the Spaniard.
“It was a tough race. I was a bit scared the start mesh was going to be slick in the second moto, so I dropped the revs and almost missed the start, but I still came out third,” said Herlings afterwards.
“I had to work hard to get through and it was not easy at all to catch and pass Jorge Prado and (French Kawasaki rider) Romain Febvre but when I went for it, I could make it happen. Romain was riding really good. I had to fight. First place as well yesterday, so a good GP and I’m very happy and pleased to have a perfect weekend. Now onto Germany.”
The world championships head immediately to the undulating and narrow hard-packed layout of Talkessel in Teutschenthal for the Grand Prix of Germany next week.
Photo courtesy Ray Archer, KTM
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RESULTS & STANDINGS:
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:11.973; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:07.706; 3. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:20.582; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:23.630; 5. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:25.870; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:28.722; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:29.871; 8. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), +0:51.219; 9. Brian Bogers (NED, Honda), +1:05.615; 10. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Beta), +1:30.645.
MXGP – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 35:18.867; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:04.972; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:19.776; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Yamaha), +0:37.993; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:46.222; 6. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), +1:08.090; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +1:19.129; 8. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:34.718; 9. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Beta), +1:35.412; 10. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Honda), +1:37.128.
MXGP – GP Top 10 Classification:
1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 42 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 37 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 36 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 30 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 30 p.; 7. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), 28 p.; 8. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, BET), 23 p.; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 23 p.; 10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 19 p.
MXGP – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 393 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 378 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 306 p.; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 294 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 273 p.; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 260 p.; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 260 p.; 8. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GAS), 203 p.; 9. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 202 p.; 10. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), 191 p.
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 1 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 35:05.271; 2. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:01.000; 3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Husqvarna), +0:29.021; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:34.752; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:37.400; 6. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +0:49.055; 7. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +0:57.556; 8. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), +1:15.373; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:20.869; 10. Sacha Coenen (BEL, KTM), +1:26.582.
MX2 – Grand Prix Race 2 – Top 10 Classification:
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), 36:29.270; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, Husqvarna), +0:06.199; 3. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, Husqvarna), +0:14.909; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +0:29.168; 5. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Kawasaki), +0:32.844; 6. Thibault Benistant (FRA, Yamaha), +0:45.805; 7. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), +0:48.062; 8. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), +0:49.030; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:22.772; 10. Isak Gifting (SWE, GASGAS), +1:39.709.
MX2 – GP Top 10 Classification:
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 50 points; 2. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 40 p.; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 37 p.; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 34 p.; 5. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 31 p.; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Mikkel Haarup (DEN, KTM), 27 p.; 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, GAS), 25 p.; 9. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 24 p.; 10. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 22 p.
MX2 – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 367 points; 2. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 355 p.; 3. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 348 p.; 4. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 319 p.; 5. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 303 p.; 6. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 273 p.; 7. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 259 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 232 p.; 9. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 223 p.; 10. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 160 p.