Red Bull KTM factory rider Jeffrey Herlings is very much like he is close to his best speed. The Dutchman took the lead early in moto one and never allowed the opposition to fight for the win. Holding a constant three second lead over defending champion Jorge Prado, it was classic Herlings and maybe now, we will see him close down that huge points lead. Series leader Tim Gajser rode a safe moto, running in third the whole race and not really pushing too hard in these very warm conditions.

Jeffrey Herlings: Last night we sat with the team and made some changes and it worked and very happy with it. Second in the first turn, but went inside and took the lead and led the whole moto. Very happy with the moto and looking forward to the second one.

In the MXGP championship points it is now Tim Gajser 539, Jorge Prado 508, and Jeffrey Herlings 475. So the Dutchman is now 64 points off the leader, Gajser.

Seewer led from Herlings, Prado, Gajser, Bonacorsi, Guillod, Coldenhoff, Vlaanderen, Gifting and Pancar, but Herlings into the lead quickly. Prado and Gajser also moved past Seewer and the big three are one, two and three as we head into the MXGP moto one.

One lap in and the lead by Herlings was three seconds over Prado, with Gajser 4.4 behind the Dutchman, then came Seewer, Bonacorsi, Vlaanderen, Coldenhoff, Guillod, Guadaganini, and Gifting 10th. Lap two the lead was still three seconds, with Gajser now six seconds off the leader.

Lap four and the lead was 3.5, and Herlings getting slightly away, but what will the warm conditions do to these two front men as Gajser was 10 seconds off Herlings pace. Seewer was next 13 seconds back, then Vlaanderen 17 seconds back, followed by Bonacorsi, Coldenhoff, Guillod, Guadagnini, and Horgmo 10th.

Lap six and the lead was still three seconds as Prado now about to lose ground on the leader and Gajser 11 seconds back from Herlings in third place. Not a lot changing as Seewer, Vlaanderen, Bonacorsi, Coldenhoff, Guillod, Guadagnini and Horgmo fill out the top ten.

Lap seven and the gap was just 1.9 and Prado was coming, Gajser 13 seconds behind Herlings. Prado looking very sharp and maybe just cooling his heels in second and waiting to attack the leader. Lap eight and it was back to 2.6 and Herlings fighting hard to keep his lead.

Herlings is usually strong in the final 10 minutes, and we are now around 12 minutes remaining and two laps. Can the five-time World champion hold off the current MXGP champion? Nine laps and 2.4 the gap. Gajser playing it smart and know a consistent finish is better than pushing too hard and crashing out.

10 laps and 8 minutes remaining, and the lead was 2.6 and Herlings clearly saving energy for moto two. Prado maybe doing the same and Gajser some 18 seconds back in third place, then Seewer, Vlaanderen, Bonacorsi, Coldenhoff, Guadagnini, Guillod, and Horgmo. Not a lot happening in MXGP moto one.

Lap 12 and the lead was nearly five seconds, with the top three all just racing to make sure they have energy for moto two. Vlaanderen into fourth place as he passed Seewer, but Seewer playing it a little dirty and block passing the regain fourth place. Nice battle between these two very good GP riders. Sure enough, Vlaanderen into fourth again and this time he wasn’t allowing Seewer to get it back.

Lap 13, lead 6.4 seconds as Herlings begins to really dominate. Herlings wins from Prado and Gajser in a very uneventful moto. Still the Dutchman gained five points on series leader Gajser and that is something very much needed for “The Bullet” as we enter the second half of the season.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:51.779; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:10.164; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:16.761; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:23.402; 5. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:26.398; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:29.577; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:34.304; 8. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +0:39.618; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:41.304; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +0:58.446; 11. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:09.089; 12. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:42.945; 13. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), +1:49.310; 14. Yuki Okura (JPN, Honda), -1 lap(s); 15. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 16. Lionel Kerhoas (FRA, KTM), -3 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 539 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 508 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 475 p.; 4. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 363 p.; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 354 p.; 6. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 327 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 317 p.; 8. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 274 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 223 p.; 10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 216 p.; 11. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 213 p.; 12. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 144 p.; 13. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 134 p.; 14. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 132 p.; 15. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 128 p.; 16. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 118 p.; 17. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 110 p.; 18. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 102 p.; 19. Alvin Östlund (SWE, HON), 95 p.; 20. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, BET), 71 p

Ray Archer image (KTM) JP image (GasGas)