HRC factory rider, Jeffrey Herlings just continues to be the fastest rider in MXGP and his complete domination of the series the last two months has been as impressive as his MX2 days, or his 2018 MXGP season. The Dutchman took the lead in the opening MXGP moto in the first stages of the race and just rode off into the distance, cruising maybe and winning with ease.

Bavo Swijgers image

Jeffrey Herlings: It was good. It is hot, but I didn't suffer this year too much. Happy to keep the streak going (moto wins), I think its 37 now and we try and keep it going in the second moto. I would like to thank the team.

MXGP Moto One

Vialle with the holeshot in the opening MXGP moto, ahead of Herlings, with Herlings quickly into the lead, followed by Vialle, Febvre, Pancar, Adamo, Jonass, Seewer, Walsh, Geerts and Vlaanderen 10th.

Lap two it was Herlings with a 2.2 second lead over Vialle, with Febvre 4.2 back in third, then Seewer, Adamo, Jonass, Pancar, Vlaanderen and Walsh in 10th place. Like the early going of the MX2 race, not a lot happening as the riders have all taken their position on the track and holding it. Herlings did extend his lead over Vialle with 3.5 the gap.

Vialle showing he could be the man to battle Herlings for the MXGP championship in 2027 as he continued to hold out Febvre for second place. Top ten on lap five was Herlings, Vialle, Febvre, Seewer, Jonass, Pancar, Vlaanderen, Geerts, Walsh and Adamo in 10th place.

Hsu on the Chinese JHL factory machine did a best lap of 1.49.750, so some six seconds off Herlings speed, but not bad for a brand new MXGP machine. Hsu mentioned he is racing the 250 machine as the 450 isn’t as easy to race.

Vialle a second off the pace of Herling and in fact brought the gap to just half a second on lap eight. Herlings maybe even allowing his team-mate to be close to keep his mental edge at its highest? In saying that, Vialle a beautiful style on the 450.

The gap for Herlings was again two seconds and you have to wonder if he has playing with his opposition now? Vialle a second ahead of Febvre and Seewer 26 seconds off the leader in fourth spot. Hsu 58 seconds off the leader, but only nine seconds behind Adamo, who held ninth position.

Febvre all over the back wheel of Vialle for second place and this nicely designed circuit really showing how good these riders are as they flow around the Chinese facility. Pancar up to fourth place as Seewer dropped down the field, eventually ending in seventh place.

Gotta hand it to Febvre, as the oldest man in the field battling a very young fellow Frenchman in Vialle. Herlings now 2.7 ahead of the two on lap 11. Walsh and Adamo best laps just a second better than that of Hsu, on a 250 Chinese machine. In fact, Hsu’s best only a little more than two seconds slower than Jonass and Vlaanderen. As has been the case the last two months, Herlings wins it from Febvre and Vialle and continues to dominate everyone in MXGP.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 35:14.056; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:08.333; 3. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +0:12.236; 4. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +0:54.302; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +0:57.142; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), +1:01.128; 7. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KTM), +1:03.868; 8. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:23.353; 9. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:47.688; 10. Dylan Walsh (NZL, KTM), +1:49.387; 11. Brian Hsu (GER, JHL), -1 lap(s); 12. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 13. Riga Wu (CHN, Yamaha), -3 lap(s); 14. Yuzhang Li (CHN, JHL), -3 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 890 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 730 p.; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 659 p.; 4. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 577 p.; 5. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 573 p.; 6. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 566 p.; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 523 p.; 8. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 449 p.; 9. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 428 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 384 p.; 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 316 p.; 12. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 303 p.; 13. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 293 p.; 14. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 221 p.; 15. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 210 p.; 16. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 187 p.; 17. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 151 p.; 18. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 146 p.; 19. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KTM), 127 p.; 20. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 117 p.; 21. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 88 p.; 22. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 88 p.; 23. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 80 p.; 24. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 25. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, FAN), 62