Jeffrey Herlings - Lommel or Not?

Posted on July 26, 2021

The big question for this week is will Jeffrey Herlings try and race the MXGP of Belgium, set for the toughest motocross track in the World, Lommel next weekend?

Of course, Red Bull KTM team manager Dirk Gruebel mentioned last week he didn’t see it a good idea to rush coming back, and Herlings himself mentioned it might not be a good idea, but we also know that Herlings is somebody who just loves the competition, is as tough as anyone in the sport, and unfortunately has experience racing with severe injuries.

“It is hard to believe,” Gruebel said. “In Latvia we didn’t know anything, but this time he showed us something was wrong. Jeffrey Herling isn’t somebody who shows you something, normally this guy has such a high pain level, and he goes through stuff you couldn’t imagine. He let the shoulder hang a little bit and I thought can he make the whole moto. Winning that race is something outstanding. If you talk to people who have had this injury it is like riding with a knife in your back. The doctor told him he can’t race with this.”

“It is a shame what happened, just a racing incident,” Herlings said. “It is hard for me to say, because I don’t know myself. There is a small chance I will be back racing next week in Lommel, to keep my championship alive, is that smart, I don’t think so, and the plan is to be back for Finland and be healthy. Once again nothing has been spoken or decided. We will see the doctor again and see what happens.”

I would imagine when red plate owner Tim Gajser went down hard in the second moto in Loket last weekend and struggled to a 15th place finish in the moto, the percentages of Herlings racing Lommel improved, as the Dutchman is just 51 points behind Gajser in the MXGP championship points and having missed three motos in the championship, that is rather surprising. Herlings is also just 40 points behind second placed man Antonio Cairoli, so the chance to race, survive with some points and move onto Latvia, another track he loves and again survive could be an option, but it would take some of that Herlings mental magic to do it.

Herlings has shown on a number of occasions what a beast he is when it comes to pain. Winning Grand Prix races with a broken foot, and a fractured shoulder blade prove it.

Tim Gajser struggled in 2017 with a broken shoulder blade and that was a fracture that was at first hard to find on x-rays, meaning the damage was a lot less than that of Herlings, and we also know the Slovenian is no pussy when it comes to racing in pain.

“I was next to Jeffrey,” Gajser said. “I see Ivo launched really long and I think Jeffrey made a mistake just before the take off and that is why he was short. It is really bad luck, and of course I wish him a quick recovery. I have ridden with a similar thing in 2017. Afterwards it is like somebody is stabbing you with a knife, so he did well.”

I wouldn’t be surprised if Herlings gives it a shot, does the morning training and qualification, and then gives it a go in the opening moto. From what I understand from former or present GP riders who have ridden with a fractured shoulder blade, it is nearly unbearable, but comparing anyone to the toughness of Herlings is difficult, because that dude is one of the toughest and most motivated riders to ever throw his leg over a motocross bike.

As a fan, I want to see him race, his presence in the MXGP field just makes the weekends more intriguing, and we all want to see the Gajser vs Cairoli vs Herlings vs Prado battles in the coming weeks.

If he doesn’t work out in Lommel, and the pain is too much, then “The Bullet!” can still rest up and come back for the final rounds of the championship and set the Monster Energy Motocross of Nations victory as his main goal for 2021. Hell, Herlings is always looking to make a statement, and maybe another trip to USA to race the AMA guys could be on the agenda, and then enter the MXoN with a lot of confidence for his first ever 1-1 result at that event?

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