Amazingly, as a 15-year-old, back in 2010, Jeffrey Herlings first stamped his name on the victory list in Latvia and then he added another seven wins there, and in 2023 and 2024 won his 103rd and 104th GPs. He goes there this weekend, with 108 wins to his name, after winning in Germany last weekend.

Rather amazing, the fact the Bullet went a year without a GP win between his 2023 Latvian win and his 2024 Latvian win and nearly went a year before he won his German GP last weekend. We are just not used to seeing such gaps in his success story.

The fact that Herlings has won just six GPs in two years shows that injuries and maybe age are catching up with him, and after that 2024 win at Kegums, he did win again in Lommel, Lombok and Arnhem, and as mentioned, then added Germany last weekend.

I think all of us, want to see this sensational motocross racer win again this weekend and add win number 109 to his tally. You can be sure, with his success rate, he will want back-to-back GP wins, and again, rather surprising, his last back-to-back win came in Portugal and Spain in 2023, more than two years ago. Before that, his other “latest” double victory came in 2021, when he grabbed the MXGP championship with double wins in Mantova.

There is no doubt, with eight Grand Prix victories in Latvia, Herlings goes into this weekends Grand Prix at the Kegums circuit, with a lot of confidence. Coming off his first victory of the season in Germany last weekend, “The Bullet” arrives in Latvia with only victory on his mind.

The defending Latvian GP winner and a rider who just loves the sand, it is hard to see him get beaten, but we all know, series leader, Romain Febvre and red-hot teenager, Lucas Coenen will not make his job any easier.

The fact Herlings has won in Latvia in 2010, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2024 is staggering, but then again, we always expect the abnormal from this fine athlete.

GP Win Number Two - 2010

Back in 2010 Herlings started strong in the first moto to snatch the lead from holeshotter Musquin but dropped down to an eventual third. Moto two was different, as Herlings found himself at the front of the first laps, but Frossard came past to take the lead. Before the race finished, however, Herlings was back on top and won a three-way battle for first with Frossard and Roczen to take the overall win.

“I won my first Grand Prix in Valkenswaard,” Herlings said at the time. “Which was a big moment for me, nothing is better than that first Grand Prix win, but to win again in the sand in Latvia, which was also special and showed I can win again. Kegums is a circuit I really enjoyed, and I hope to have more success here in the future. I really enjoy coming to Latvia and this beautiful circuit.”

GP Win Number 103 - 2023

In 2023 Herlings used his KTM SX-F technology to conquer the wet, fast, rough and sandy-ish terrain around the Zelta Zirgs layout for the Grand Prix of Latvia. The Dutchman clinched both motos with authority.

“A tough race. I was a bit scared the start mesh was going to be slick in the second moto, so I dropped the revs and almost missed the start, but I still came out 3rd. I had to work hard to get through and it was not easy at all to catch and pass Jorge and Romain but when I went for it, I could make it happen. Romain was riding really good. I had to fight. 1st place as well yesterday so a good GP and I’m very happy and pleased to have a perfect weekend.”

Herlings was the standout performer on Saturday as he won the qualifier and then on Sunday Herlings chased Jorge Prado and dealt with period of arm-pump as well as a small crash before dropping his lap-times and passing the Spaniard to win the first moto.

The weather was at its worst just ahead of the second race but Herlings, who has finished on the podium three times in his last three appearances at Kegums, set a steady pace in 3rd and the blitzed to the front with three laps to go and as some belated sunshine appeared. The most successful Grand Prix winner of all-time (up to 103) is still chasing rival Prado in the standings and is now just 15 points behind the Spaniard.

12 Month Drought - 2024

In 2024 Herlings to break the twelve-month-and-five-day drought since his last Grand Prix victory for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, which was at this very same circuit last year. A stirring win in race one’s soggy conditions and a charging third in race two gave “The Bullet” his 104th Grand Prix win, extending his record total and collecting his 197th individual race win in the process.

The holeshot was fiercely contested, just taken by Prado for the tenth time this season, but Herlings had started with him and was on the case immediately! Making an aggressive pass around the corner after the finish line, he wrestled the early lead from the defending Champion!

It was enough for Herlings to register Grand Prix win number 104 and move to within 68 points of the series leader, which is now Gajser by just four points from Prado! They head to Maggiora, where Prado will have sweet memories of becoming Champion last year, and his competition will most likely be praying for rain again!

“I’m definitely super happy,” Herlings said. “Yesterday I drove to my hotel, and I thought... what am I doing, I need to do more! But today I came back to show that I can still do it you know. So, already a podium was good but to get the win is really amazing! I did two good starts too, with the first race where I was the fastest, second race I couldn’t get the pace to overtake them (Prado and Gajser) but I kept them within my sight and in the end close them down but couldn’t pass as they were very fast too. I’m very happy with the win and looking forward to the next one”.

Herlings Latvian Victories

2010 Jeffrey Herlings

2013 Jeffrey Herlings

2016 Jeffrey Herlings

2017 Jeffrey Herlings

2018 Jeffrey Herlings

2020 Jeffrey Herlings

2023 Jeffrey Herlings

2024 Jeffrey Herlings

Ray Archer images