The record-holder for most Grand Prix wins in the entire history of the FIM Motocross World Championships, Jeffrey Herlings, will race again at this weekend’s 14th round of 19 in the 2023 series.
The Dutchman will ride his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing KTM 450 SX-F this weekend at Vantaa in Finland.
The 28-year-old has recovered sufficiently from the fractured neck vertebra he sustained as a result of a crash while leading round nine in Germany on June 11.
The winner of four Grands Prix this season (still the joint-highest total in 2023) missed rounds in Indonesia, the Czech Republic and Belgium while he convalesced from the injury, but he received the all-clear from doctors this week to begin riding and will now attempt MXGP’s first visit to Vantaa this century.
The sandy nature of the Finnish course, located close to Helsinki, should play into Herlings’ favour but, instead of harbouring ambitions of top race results, Herlings is merely looking to build-up his GP speed once more and place points on the board to improve his current standing of 7th.
Finland represents the third fixture in three weeks for MXGP, so the Red Bull KTM ace will then have another two weeks to continue his comeback prep before round 15, the Grand Prix of Sweden, in mid-August.
Herlings claimed the MX2 Grand Prix of Finland at Hyvinkaa in 2014 but was on the sidelines for the return to the circuit in 2022 last year. He has six podiums from nine GP appearances in 2023 to-date.
“Once I knew the problem with my neck and back was going to need time and I’d sit out races then my only focus was to heal 100% before I came near the bike again,” said Herlings.
“I know the physical and the mental cost of setbacks like this and I was determined to follow the doctor’s advice.
“If I couldn’t have the title this year then I wanted my health. I’m still in good shape so I hope it won’t take too long to get back at the front.”
Photo courtesy KTM
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STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 13 OF 19:
MXGP – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 665 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 566 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 506 p.; 4. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 481 p.; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 480 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 444 p.; 7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 386 p.; 8. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), 331 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 276 p.; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, GAS), 203 p.
MX2 – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 564 points; 2. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 551 p.; 3. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 501 p.; 4. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 487 p.; 5. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 462 p.; 6. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 438 p.; 7. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 433 p.; 8. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 425 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 361 p.; 10. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 253 p.