Six-time world motocross champion, Jeffrey Herlings is known for his desire to win, and win at any cost was his trademark but in the past, but this 2026 version of “The Bullet”, despite still being near unbeatable, or at least unbeatable since the British GP a couple of months ago, probably looks smoother and more comfortable than any time in his career.

Bavo Swijgers images

Small mistakes don’t happen often and despite a crash on Saturday in China, seeing Herlings on the deck in recent time is very unusual, more so than ever in his long career.

With his 124th GP victory in China and coming off his championship victory in Turkey a week ago, you just have to wonder what is possible for the Dutchman, as he starts to prepare for 2027. Because as we all know, nobody works harder than this six time world champion and his eyes will already be on the defence of his MXGP championship.

I said it last week, but this return to the very top of the MXGP standings really reminds me of Stefan Everts in 2001, when (at the time) the Belgian held just four World titles (1991, 1995, 1996 and 1997) from his decade or so years in GP, but turned that around to grab another six between 2001 and 2006.

Having not won a world motocross championship for three years, suddenly, these years for Everts were his most dominant and I really get the feeling, we are entering an era that Herlings, despite turning 32 years of age last weekend, very possibly has another three or four years of being at the top.

Of course, that 2001 season Everts had moved from a very sorry two years with Honda and Husqvarna, that saw injuries in both 1999 and 2000 seemingly end his run as a world contender (at least that is what many were saying). Changing to the Yamaha factory team of Michele Rinaldi, an Italian run team gave Everts the relationship he needed to return to the very top, and didn't he run with it.

Can Herlings get to the golden number of 10, held by Everts? That is a long way off, but if he continues to control the fields as he does now, one or two seems very possible at the least. Everts was 33 years old when he retired, turning 34 in November of 2006 and he was unbeatable, so the “King” of GP could easily have ridden into his mid to late 30s and still been a championship winner, or at worst a contender. The question is, can Herlings do the same?

Despite bashing his body up more than just about any rider in Grand Prix history, Herlings is still as strong as a bull, and with this new HRC era looking so positive and his control of the machine looking so fine, I wouldn’t bet against him in 2027 and then when Tom Vialle, Kay De Wolf, Guillem Farres, and many more start to get more experience, we will see what is left of “The Bullet”.

For now, though, let’s enjoy what we are getting, because back in 2010, when Herlings was a 15-year-old kid, winning his first GP at Valkenswaard, and everyone was saying he could easily be the greatest Grand Prix rider of all time, and then through all these injuries, we could never have hoped he would be dominating the opposition at 32 years of age. Bring on Australia and 2027, because this domination could well continue into the next season.

Herlings sat down with the world media in China and told us about his weekend and his charge through the record books. As always, Herlings doesn't let us down with his open comments.

How Did Saturday Feel?

Herlings: Yeah, it was good. Considering this morning, I think it was quite good to still top every practice and lead almost every lap, so not too bad. After a good night of sleep, I’ll be like new again tomorrow. The track is quite gnarly, it’s a bit easier than last year, last year there was a bit more rain and it was way hotter than this year. But I’m still enjoying it. The crash in the first practice didn’t help the situation. Thankfully I’m okay from that, and I was able to keep winning each session, but I’d have definitely preferred not to have crashed! In the race I didn’t get the holeshot, but I made an early pass and then I just controlled the race. I wasn’t able to pull away, which would have made life easier, but I still won and that’s the main thing.

Another 1-1-1, but Romain pushed you in the end, how did it feel?

Herlings: Both motos I had trouble with humidity, sweating and fogging the goggles a bit. It is just stupid, stupid humid outside. I pulled away at the beginning and then I was struggling a bit. Because I was leading, I could take off all my tear-offs, to try and keep as good a vision as I could. I never had a problem with that, but it was just extremely humid here in China. I managed to do enough in both motos. Romain was really good and I think this was one of his best races all year. I know a lot of riders are not here, Lucas (Coenen), Tim (Gajser), Kay (De Wolf), Ruben (Fernandez) and Renaux. I know the speed I had in the middle of the season racing Lucas or even some races where I was pulling a big gap, but he (Febvre) was really good today. I am really looking forward to Australia. Last year I got second there to Lucas. I won 12 races so far this year and I would be nice to get another win and end the championship with that win. A really dominant performance by HRC this year, we got out of the starts really good, with many races it was Tom and I first and second. It is definitely a good bike, and they are working extremely hard and I look forward to Australia in one weeks’ time.

Total Domination?

It’s great to keep this winning streak going, but it certainly hasn’t been easy these past few GPs. Every time someone has stepped up and made life difficult for me, but I still managed to get the job done. Obviously, my starts have helped me out so a big thank you to the team for all their work with that, but yea, I’m also on a nice run winning every session as well, so I’m just hoping to keep that rolling until the end of the season.

Coming into China it was 35 wins now 38. How do you approach this?

Herlings: Yes, but for me it stops after Australia and next year is a new thing. I try and go for six more ones (quickest in all sessions and three moto wins), and I think I am the only guy, maybe Tom or Romain can stop it, it’s a funny thing and people have been going on like, 32, 33, 34, 38 now. It would be nice to make it 44 and finish off with another GP win, because we won every single moto since Foxhill. I feel a little like 2018 or 2016 dominance. Definitely some riders put a lot of pressure, like Romain today, last weekend Tom, the weekend before that Kay. I managed to beat them all still, but there will be a day when I get beaten again.

You won the MXGP of China last year and you again won this year, and it was cooler this year, but what is your opinion of the difference with the track this year and last year?

Herlings: Definitely last year was a lot warmer and it wasn’t like it was warm, but the humidity we have here, we don’t have in Europe, or we have it rarely in Europe, so it’s a different kind of heat. Friday and Saturday and even today was not that hot, just very humid. The track is quite small, but it’s not a bad track, it creates quite some lines and there was quite a bit of passing and it helps that they don’t rip it that deep. When they rip it deep, they get a lot of lines, but you always take the inside and now you can go left, right, left, right. The dirt is quite good, a bit sandy on top. I think it’s a quite good track. They did a good job, and you can see it’s not a new track anymore and its shaped up better than last year. Last year the jumps were quite steep, and we also had more rain. The track is fine and I am looking forward to coming back next year.