It was a different time, yet not that long ago. We all remember the 2018 season and the performances of Jeffrey Herlings. He had come off that sensational AMA national victory in 2017, winning the overall and taking the second moto of the day after starting in last place. America had taken note and realized something we all knew in Europe. Jeffrey Herlings, despite not being the World champion, was the Worlds best.

Herlings ripped through the MXGP season of 2018 with a stunning 17 GP wins and winning the final 13 GPs of the season, he was at his all-time best. Without doubt the fastest man on the planet and one race that stood out for me was an exciting GP on the island of Java in Indonesia.

A week earlier he won at the small island of Pangkal, Pinang, with a 2-1 performance. Leading home World champion Antonio Cairoli 1-2 and 2015 MXGP champion, Romain Febvre with 5-3, while Tim Gajser scored 4-4 results.

Herlings arrived at Semerang full of confidence, he won the Saturday qualifier from Gajser and Seewer, then scored 1-1 results on Sunday, again leading home Gajser and Clement Desalle. Below is a report on that Sunday victory.

The MXGP of Asia in Semarang, Indonesia is complete and one to remember! The weekend was full of action all leading up to today’s racing where Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings and Jorge Prado took their respective overalls while gaining ground in the championship standings.

From the first race of MX2 to the final race of MXGP the racing was incredible and challenged the world’s best riders. The MX2 title chase is now even with both Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders Pauls Jonass and Jorge Prado tied at 550 points while the fights in MXGP continue with new faces battling for wins!

Starting off the Sunday at the new and massive Semarang circuit was a formal opening ceremony alongside the Skybox. The opening ceremony started with the national anthem, then hosted a traditional Semarang dance performance, and concluded with Youthstream Vice President David Luongo, FIM Asia President Mr. Stephen Carapiet, Chief of the IMI Mr. Sadikin Aksa and Mayor of Semarang Mr. Hendrar Prihadi, S.E. M.M. thanking the fans and showing their appreciation for the hospitality shown to MXGP.

The competitors in the 2018 MXGP World Championship are as tough as nails or in Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings case tough as the plate and screws of his recently fractured collar bone. Herlings came into the Indonesian trip unsure of his situation but by the end has come away with 97 championship points of the 100 available.

At the drop of the gate for MXGP Race 1 Herlings was the fastest to the first turn but lost the Fox Holeshot and lead when he bobbled on the exit of the corner. Taking over the lead position and the Fox Holeshot was Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Antonio Cairoli with Rockstar Energy

The opening lap action continued with Team HRC’s Tim Gajser making his way to third and second in front of Herlings briefly. Wilvo Yamaha Official MXGP’s Jeremy Seewer and Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Julien Lieber collided on the uphill triple which sent Seewer tumbling, neither rider was injured but Seewer did not rejoin the race.

Herlings struggled to keep momentum at the start of the race and was passed by both Gajser and Paulin on lap 2 with Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP’s Romain Febvre closing in as well. Cairoli’s lead was then taken by Gajser and Febvre was past Herlings who was immediately under pressure from Desalle.

Febvre and his fellow frenchman, Paulin, kicked off a battle for third swapping positions all in front of Herlings. Herlings took advantage of the battle and was into 4th past Paulin. Desalle then banged bars with Paulin eventually finding a way by the Frenchman.

Herlings made a move around the outside of Febvre and was then past Cairoli in the same lap. From that point Herlings gained time on Gajser and made a pass lap 13 just before Febvre crashed out of 4th. At the finish Herlings took the win with Gajser 2nd and Cairoli 3rd.

Race 2 was started with a second Fox Holeshot from Cairoli with Herlings, Desalle, and Seewer alongside. Febvre was back for Race 2 but fell on the start and had to fight back from dead last. Cairoli’s good start was short lived when he dropped 5 positions in the first 3 turns back to 6th. Desalle was in the lead next, but Herlings took it away in before the first lap was complete.

Cairoli lost more positions early in the race to Lieber and TM Factory Racing’s Max Nagl. Back at the front Desalle was charging to insides of Herlings and showing the red plate holder a wheel as Paulin crashed while under pressure from Lieber.

Seewer was also riding well and up in 4th while Cairoli made a pair of passes to take back fifth from Nagl and Lieber. On lap 13 Seewer would also lose his position to Cairoli whose forward progress wouldn’t be enough to catch Gajser in 3rd.

At the finish Herlings took his 2nd race win of the day with Desalle 2nd, Gajser 3rd, Cairoli 4th, and Seewer 5th. In the overall result Herlings took the clear win with 1-1, Gajser took 2nd with 2-3, and Desalle returned to the podium for the first time since winning the MXGP of Russia with 4-2 for 3rd.

Jeffrey Herlings: “To go home with 97 points from the 2 weekends is absolutely amazing, I didn’t expect that, and it has been like a dream come true. Not only didn’t I lose any points, but I actually gained some, not many but a few is good, so I don’t want to take this for granted. The rest of the guys rode awesome I really had to fight in the first race with Tim and the second with Clement.”

Tim Gajser: “I was feeling good coming here, the track it was just amazing. I was pushing hard to pass Clement in race 2 but had to settle for 3rd to take 2nd overall, it was a good weekend.”

Clement Desalle: “It is good to be back on the podium. It has been a long time since I have been on the podium. I had good races today with two consistent races and two good starts which were really important.”

MXGP Race 1 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 33:54.179; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:01.786; 3. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:13.879; 4. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:17.519; 5. Gautier Paulin (FRA, Husqvarna), +0:20.604; 6. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, Yamaha), +0:22.007; 7. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:35.278; 8. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:49.077; 9. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:59.110; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), +1:24.278

MXGP Race 2 Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 34:21.626; 2. Clement Desalle (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:05.537; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:11.311; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), +0:18.393; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Yamaha), +0:21.214; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, Husqvarna), +0:25.998; 7. Tommy Searle (GBR, Kawasaki), +0:27.988; 8. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, Kawasaki), +0:29.546; 9. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), +0:32.666; 10. Julien Lieber (BEL, Kawasaki), +0:40.658

MXGP Overall Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 50 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 42 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 40 p.; 4. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 38 p.; 5. Tommy Searle (GBR, KAW), 28 p.; 6. Max Anstie (GBR, HUS), 27 p.; 7. Alessandro Lupino (ITA, KAW), 26 p.; 8. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 26 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 23 p.; 10. Kevin Strijbos (BEL, KTM), 17 p.

MXGP Championship Top Ten: 1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 583 points; 2. Antonio Cairoli (ITA, KTM), 559 p.; 3. Clement Desalle (BEL, KAW), 447 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 410 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, YAM), 400 p.; 6. Gautier Paulin (FRA, HUS), 389 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, KTM), 329 p.; 8. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 295 p.; 9. Jeremy Van Horebeek (BEL, YAM), 280 p.; 10. Maximilian Nagl (GER, TM), 227 p.

Ray Archer image