Red Bull KTM factory racer, Jeffrey Herlings just won’t go away, and for all us fans, it was a great day for the sport, the fact the five-time World motocross champion still has it and could capture his 108th GP victory in Germany last weekend.

Despite the talented young Belgian rider, Lucas Coenen showing ridiculous speed and mental strength, “The Bullet” came through, like “The Bullet” has done his whole career, getting a win, when it seems maybe his winning streak could be coming to an end.

Despite probably his 1000th injury and getting up there in the age bracket as well, Jeffrey Herlings has finally won that 108th Grand Prix, and he did it in typical Herlings style, grinding out a GP win on a circuit that has given him probably as much pain as it has pleasure. Then again, which circuit hasn’t been like that for this legend of the sport, who just cannot find a way to not win.

There is no doubt, Herlings has put MXGP on his back on more occasions than maybe any other athlete in our sport. He has continued now for 15 years to present us with sensational moments and as good as he is, he continues to surprise us.

After winning the opening moto in a shootout with Herlings, Lucas Coenen was looking, cool, calm and collected and while the pressure from Herlings was enormous in the second moto, you had the feeling the Belgian had the Dutchman’s number, but then, as he has done a million times in his career, Herlings found some extra speed and delivered the knock-out punch on Coenen, to make a pass and take that 108th GP victory.

We here at MXlarge love anything and everything about Herlings career and this win in Germany will be one of those moments we will remember when the greatest Grand Prix winner of all time finally decides to give his career a rest. It might come in the normal retirement age of 67, because it doesn’t seem to matter how old Herlings gets, he still finds a way to win. Below is an interview with Herlings, as he speaks to the World media and gives us another classic review on another classic win.

MXLarge: Welcome back to the top step of the podium. How does it feel?

Herlings: I mean one set-back after another. I came back after three days on the bike and I wanted to do some local race and got hit on the back, I couldn’t ride for two weeks, then one day of riding before Sardinia and then every weekend I got a bit better. Then I got 15th, to 10th, to seventh and I felt I was ready for the podium and then I crashed and Romain hit me, there was nothing he could do and then I broke a rib again, so that was really painful for Portugal and Spain. Last weekend I was meant to be on the podium, and I crashed. I had the same points as Ruben, and I had a lot of ups and down. To win today was amazing, because the competition was really strong and the track was really tricky.

MXLarge: Tell us about the two motos?

Herlings: First moto I was battling Lucas, and I have so much respect for him, being 18 years old to contain that pressure, last weekend from Romain and this weekend from me. To be under that pressure and not make any mistakes, he is a big champion in the making, let’s say that. First moto I was riding behind Lucas, and he wasn’t making any mistakes, second moto we had the mud, and I gave Romain a bit of a gap, because I was scared for my goggles, because I knew once I was going through my roll-offs, I was done. I was waiting for the lapped riders, because I knew if you made a good line, you could pass easily. I had one really good line, which I don’t think the other two saw (Coenen and Febvre) and I managed to pass Romain and a could of laps later Lucas. It was great to come back and win again. The two guys next to me are really good and its going to be a nice championship between those two.

MXLarge: It was like you really trusted the process this last couple of months. What did you have to do to get your rhythm and your fitness back?

Herlings: I just tried to keep riding, you know. I just tried to get better and keep riding. I had to ride with the fast guys in Sardinia. I showed them I had the speed, but after three laps my arm pump was harder than you could believe, and I couldn’t hold on anymore. I felt I was riding as fast as the fast guys, and I tried to get to their level again. There is no championship for me on the line anymore, so I just and race for day success. Hopefully get as many podiums and wins as I can. The competition is strong, so it won’t be easy.

MXLarge: You are so used to winning, but how did this one feel, because it’s been a long time since the last one?

Herlings: I have come off so many injuries, uncountable, so I have had a lot of highs and lows in my career. The talent you are born with, but so many injuries and I feel it when I wake up in the morning and I feel like (he made a cracking sound). With the talent, you are born with that, that doesn’t go, and you just have to put in the hard work and be competitive again. As you could see, it took me two months to be competitive again. It feels good to be back, number 108. There are a couple of guys coming, so I need to get the number as high as possible, so when I retire, it will stay there for a while.

MXLarge: You mentioned in Lugo that you done your first test, because you said you were going too slow to do any testing before that. You look more comfortable on the bike now, so what changes did you make?

Herlings: I just kind of got a new bike and we had the changes with the new noise rules. I just said, let me ride and I tried to get up to speed and once I was a bit closer, where I should be competitive again, lets go testing. My starts got a bit better, and they are still not, top, top, like in France on an equal start, I was second in the first moto. Here I got a little favour from Lucas, because he left the first gate open. Normally here, even on the first gate, you would be top five anyway. They improved it a little bit, the consistency isn’t there, but the bike got better on the start, at least my bike. Just trying to keep working, because the competition isn’t sleeping.

MXlarge: All your injuries have taken a toll on you. Coming back from this one, wasn’t an easy task. Did you ever doubt yourself?

Herlings: When I started in Sardinia, I just thought I go there for practice, but then I went home, got jumped on by another rider and I was injured again. I just thought, I go ride with the good guys and whatever I get, I get and just work from there. I knew I wasn’t going to be competitive, but I never doubted, I could still win. I knew it would take a while. I remember when Tim came back in 2023, and it took him a couple of races, and I remember him finishing in 15th in Lommel when he came back and then around fifth or 10th in Loket. It is normal and he had like probably some good prep. Lucas is very young and he didn’t have so many injuries, luckily, but Romain knows, when you come back from injuries, it takes some time. I just got thrown into the deep end with no time to prepare. If you get hurt in July and start riding in November, you have time to prepare, but I didn’t come prepared at all. It is what it is, and I just try and get as many podium or wins. The year is halfway through, and I don’t want to interfere with their championship. I am here to do my thing.

MXlarge: How could you compare Lucas to some of your rivals from the past?

Herlings: I compare him to Prado, regarding talent. I need to watch what I say, because Jorge is kind of a friend of mine, but I feel like Lucas is even more complete. Like last year, actually, I shouldn’t say, I think they are both very talented (He turned to Febvre, who said, “I know what you mean”, and both laughed). Lucas is very young and there are the rumours about him going to US, but whatever he does, he will be very talented and somebody to look at for the next 10 to 15 years, if he stays injury free. Everyone races a bit different, with Tony (Cairoli) he was a bit sneaky, and we had lovely battles and with Jorge, he has mirrors on his bike, and he could smell where you could be coming. I have battles so many guys and everyone has their own little and you have to get used to it. I have had so many injures, and I want to race them clean and so far, they have raced me clean. I just want respect, and I give respect back.

JP/KTM images