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Jeffrey Herlings interview - Motocross Illustrated Feature
News Thursday 26th January 2012 By Geoff Meyer
It’s a winter day in The Netherlands and Red Bull Teka KTM Factory rider Jeffrey Herlings is resting after a period of testing in America. It wasn’t a totally successful visit to the land of Stars and Stripes, but Herlings got enough out of the trip with day after day of riding the all new 250cc machine by KTM.
Now back in Europe he can reflect on that time in America and look forward to what he hopes will be a really successful 2012. We caught up with Herlings and put together this interview.
Motocross Illustrated: Jeffrey, you have time now to enjoy a little rest period or not?
Herlings: Sure it is always nice to get some peaceful time at home. The season was long and in February we have our first race in Mantova. My last Dutch Championship race was in October and we have seven or eight months or racing every weekend, then you also have the testing, so it’s nice in December to just relax. From the middle of January I will start riding again.
Motocross Illustrated: In October and November you did a lot of testing on the new 350 motor. I heard that that went very well?
Herlings: Yes, the motor is really good, it also looks different, actually the block is from the 350 and the cylinder is from the 250. I also rode a lot with the 350 machine, also with the original version, that is a really nice bike to ride. We actually have more power than we had in 2011, so that is good.
Motocross Illustrated: At the end of November you visited America, how did that all end up?
Herlings: Really good, although I also had some crashes. Training on the Supercross tracks is totally different from training on European tracks. I was also there when everyone was training and testing for Anaheim I. The tracks were all over used, a lot of riders and only once in the week they fix them. So it’s difficult to learn anything on tracks like that. The last week I rode more and I learnt a lot. The whoops are the most difficult from everything, totally different than in Europe. In America the whoops are a lot higher and steeper, that takes time getting used to them. Look at Roczen, he is a good example how much better he looks on the American tracks now. You have to be really relaxed on the bike. I didn’t have any pressure, for me it was a little training and a holiday.
Motocross Illustrated: So is American you future?
Herlings: I shouldn’t have any problem getting into the KTM team in America, that isn’t a problem. I have an option to go to America in 2013, Supercross on the West Coast and combined with racing the 2013 FIM World Motocross Championship. I think my future is in Europe, for sure I want to concentrate on the coming season; at the end of 2012 I will look further. My feeling is I will stay in Europe, but that changes from day to day. I am leaving all my options open and KTM leave me to decide what I want. You can’t ignore the fact when you race Supercross it’s just one day and the GP’s are a complete weekend.
To read more from this interview go to the Motocross Illustrated, our FREE e-magazine.
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Motocross Illustrated: Jeffrey, you have time now to enjoy a little rest period or not?
Herlings: Sure it is always nice to get some peaceful time at home. The season was long and in February we have our first race in Mantova. My last Dutch Championship race was in October and we have seven or eight months or racing every weekend, then you also have the testing, so it’s nice in December to just relax. From the middle of January I will start riding again.
Motocross Illustrated: In October and November you did a lot of testing on the new 350 motor. I heard that that went very well?
Herlings: Yes, the motor is really good, it also looks different, actually the block is from the 350 and the cylinder is from the 250. I also rode a lot with the 350 machine, also with the original version, that is a really nice bike to ride. We actually have more power than we had in 2011, so that is good.
Motocross Illustrated: At the end of November you visited America, how did that all end up?
Herlings: Really good, although I also had some crashes. Training on the Supercross tracks is totally different from training on European tracks. I was also there when everyone was training and testing for Anaheim I. The tracks were all over used, a lot of riders and only once in the week they fix them. So it’s difficult to learn anything on tracks like that. The last week I rode more and I learnt a lot. The whoops are the most difficult from everything, totally different than in Europe. In America the whoops are a lot higher and steeper, that takes time getting used to them. Look at Roczen, he is a good example how much better he looks on the American tracks now. You have to be really relaxed on the bike. I didn’t have any pressure, for me it was a little training and a holiday.
Motocross Illustrated: So is American you future?
Herlings: I shouldn’t have any problem getting into the KTM team in America, that isn’t a problem. I have an option to go to America in 2013, Supercross on the West Coast and combined with racing the 2013 FIM World Motocross Championship. I think my future is in Europe, for sure I want to concentrate on the coming season; at the end of 2012 I will look further. My feeling is I will stay in Europe, but that changes from day to day. I am leaving all my options open and KTM leave me to decide what I want. You can’t ignore the fact when you race Supercross it’s just one day and the GP’s are a complete weekend.
To read more from this interview go to the Motocross Illustrated, our FREE e-magazine.
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