I don’t think it is a secret that from the big three, Jeffrey Herlings has been the man to watch since the MXGP series returned from Indonesia a month or so ago. The Dutchman who showed blazing speed in Loket, Lommel and in Arnhem last weekend has scored more points than anyone else in this last month and while Sweden was a downer, he kept himself in title contention with his 1-1 results at his home Grand Prix in Arnhem.

We caught up with “The Bullet” after another strong and inspiring performance and his 107th Grand Prix victory. Herlings has closed the gap on both series leader Tim Gajser and Jorge Prado and while still a long way behind, he is undefeated in Turkey, where we head in a few weeks time, with four wins there in 2018, 2019 and twice in 2020 and is also the only guy to win MXGP in China (Prado won MX2 there). It isn’t over, until its over is the message this last weekend from the five time World motocross champion.

MXLarge: I was saying to Glenn, when you look at the Dutch fans, be it during the European football or here today in Arnhem, they are some of the best fans for really getting into it. Glenn told me it really motivated him, but how is it for you?

Herlings: Well, obviously I have been doing this almost the longest, maybe Tony longer, but I have been doing it such a long time, I get used to it, but it is special when you see all the Jeffrey Herlings jerseys and the Dutch flags, it is always special and it never gets boring.

MXLarge: Yesterday and also today in the first moto, you just didn’t look yourself and I thought maybe it was your hand from the crash in Sweden, but it was in fact your back. Tell me how that happened?

Herlings: Honestly, I thought my finger was broken (from the crash in Sweden), but it isn’t, but I stepped out of the van and threw my back out. I have had so much pain. I had to try and ride on Wednesday just because I had to see if it was possible to race at the Belgian international on Thursday (which he won with 1-1). So, I rode on Wednesday, and it was so painful, but I didn’t want people writing on the internet that Herlings is injured again. He isn’t racing in Balen and won, and then after that, the pain got less and less and on Friday it was nearly gone, but then yesterday, I jumped in the second lap of warm-up I over jumped a jump, and the pain was back. I never had an issue with my back until now. The doctor said its just muscle and not a bone and he said in a week or two it should be gone again.

MXLarge: As I said, yesterday and the first moto it wasn’t like your Lommel speed, you seemed to be a bit reserved. What problems did the back pain cause, because this track was very rough?

Herlings: Over the jumps, and when I hit bumps, but the whole track was full of bumps and it would have been a lot better if it was a hard pack track and I was even wishing we rode hard pack this weekend, because there were so many bumps and that was the main problem for getting pain. Eventually we came out with 1-1 results, so that made it worthwhile. I couldn’t wish for a better weekend, and I will just take a few days off, maybe ride on Thursday, or Friday morning and hopefully be good again in Switzerland.

MXLarge: How did the day feel for you?

Herlings: I had my back pain and that is what happens when you get old. I had to take pain killers, and I am happy to take some time off. 1-1 is what I was aiming for, and I came from a bad start and made it difficult for myself. I raced with Febvre for a while, coming back and forward and I used a lot of energy for that. I passed him and with three laps remaining I passed Jorge for the lead. Second moto a good start and I was third and I was looking at them and they were riding really fast. I ran off the track and Jorge passed me. I saw Jorge putting in some quick laps and passing both Glenn and Tim and I knew I had to go with him, which I did, and I was super happy to go 1-1. It has been a while since I won a home Grand Prix.

MXLarge: Your fitness was great, as always.

Herlings: Yes, it took me a while to get going, but my fitness has never been a problem. I just have one problem that is my starts. Sometimes I get a good start, but on average, the starts have cost me the championship. Start crashed also in a few GPs. I need to work on it for the future.

MXLarge: You have said it a few times to me, and I also saw this week that you mentioned in the Dutch press that you would rather finish third and end the season fit, than end the season getting injured risking going for the championship. I mean, you are 35 points off Tim, with four rounds remaining and I can imaging its hard to balance that, because if you get it down to 10 or 15 points and need to take risk to get the title, would you in fact be careful?

Herlings: Definitely, I mean, I am already third in the championship. I have a big advantage over Calvin in the points, like 200 points or something. For me third place is almost safe, and its just a shame. I had a DNF, two or three start crashes and luck has not been on my side. I have had some real shit starts, that didn’t help. Over the complete year, for sure the last couple of months, I have matched the speed of Jorge and Tim. I am really close, but I need some luck.

MXlarge: Because Jorge is so quick in those opening laps, and his starts are so good, is it just a matter of staying as close as possible, not letting him get too big an advantage, and then getting him eventually with your endurance?

Herlings: Obviously Jorge is the best starter and Tim is also good, better than me. For me Jorge looks the best for the championship, and he has the last round in Spain.

MXlarge: He hasn’t hardly crashed.

Herlings: Yes, but did I, when did I last crash?

MXlarge: Last lap in Sweden you had a big one…(smiling).

Herlings: Oh, yes, but have you seen it.

MXlarge: No.

Herlings: So, who says its big (laughing). No, seriously, it was a massive one. I think Jorge is looking really good now and it will be tough to beat him.

MXlarge: What is the difference racing those two guys, Tim rides pretty clean and Jorge has been known to ride very close, but also clean?

Herlings: Well, Tim cleaned me out of the track moto one in Sweden, so is he cleaner than Jorge? Me and Jorge, we speak a lot, because him being GasGas and me KTM< we speak a lot in the Red Bull facility, and I have a lot of respect for Jorge. For me, he is from us three, the most talented and gifted, but Tim is also clean, and we race 20 rounds and a lot of races and if you start taking each other out, that won’t work, and we all want to go home safe. I like to ride clean, and I haven’t had a problem with either of them.

MXLarge: You have done well at two of the tracks that are coming up, in China and Turkey and obviously Spain is a new one for everyone. How do you feel coming to these circuits?

Herlings: I have never lost in Turkey.

MXLarge: I know you have won there a few times, but you haven’t been there the last two years due to injury?

Herlings: Yes, I won there in 2018, I won there twice in 2019, and I won in 2021 twice, so I have won four us of four in Turkey and I won the only race we have done in China. Switzerland, I won a while ago, but it was a different location. I didn’t do great there last year.

MXLarge: Motocross of Nations, you have a really good team, with Calvin Vlaanderen and Kay De Wolf. We don’t know how Calvin will be as he got injured today, but Glenn is waiting in the wings, he told us if needed. I think Holland must be the favourites.

Herlings: I don’t know if we are the favourites, Team USA will be strong, your country Australia looks strong.

MXlarge: Yes, but I am half Dutch, been living here for 32 years, so I have two teams to pick from.

Herlings: So, you can pick whoever wins, you are one of those guys (laughing). So that is how you do it. Also, France will again have a good team. Holland are looking good, and I think we have a top five, if you ask me, we should be top five, but to win will be difficult. Today, Glenn was way faster than Calvin, but over the whole season, we made the right decision, but Glenn would be also good if he came into the team if needed.

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