Jeffrey Herlings on difficult Valkenswaard victory and why he's looking forward to Argentina
By Team TMX on 9th Mar 20
MXGP Jeffrey Herlings Valkenswaard Tom Vialle Rene Hofer
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing ruled both MXGP and MX2 classes at a damp and dark Grand Prix of the Netherlands and the second round of 20 in the 2020 FIM Motocross World Championship thanks to Jeffrey Herlings and Tom Vialle respectively with their KTM 450 SX-F and KTM 250 SX-F.
Copious rainfall created a rough and treacherous Eurocircuit in Valkenswaard south of Eindhoven for the second round of 2020 MXGP. The sand was demanding and technical and a thorough test for the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing quintet.
MXGP
Jeffrey Herlings got back to winning ways on home territory after missing the Dutch GP in 2019.
With moto tallies of 2-1 he shared the same points total as Tim Gajser but ruled the final event standings courtesy of his second race result. The 25-year-old Dutchman maintains his grip on the red plate as MXGP series leader after his second victory of the season.
Jeffrey Herlings: This was one of the most difficult Valkenswaard wins. Tim did a great job but it was important for us to think about the overall than the 1-1 and to not lose points. This was a good GP for us. Going to Argentina I hope we can find some good weather! It has been two in a row now with rain! Well try to make the best of the situation there and go again for a podium spot.
MX2
Tom Vialle triumphed for his second career Grand Prix victory and made sure of his spoils in Holland with a commanding second moto win. The Frenchman used the power of the works KTM 250 SX-F to gain both holeshots on Sunday. He was passed for the lead by local favourite Jago Geerts in the first race but escaped to take the chequered flag in the second.
Vialles results mean he leads the MX2 FIM World Championship for the first time and at the start of just his second season in Grand Prix. Rene Hofer showed his fast adaptation to the rigours of MX2 by classifying fourth in the first race at Valkenswaard. An early crash in the next sprint required a pitstop and led to several small errors that forced the Austrian out of the points. Hofer was 9th for the day.
Tom Vialle: A really good weekend for me and Im really happy with the result. I took two holeshots and led almost the whole moto but then I had a small problem with my goggles and I didnt want to take too many risks. I was really motivated for the second moto and went full gas in the first laps to make a gap. I was quite far ahead by the end. Im happy to have the red plate. We still have a long way to go, and now Im looking forward to Argentina.
Rene Hofer: All in all a good weekend. It was positive to get the 4th starting position on Saturday and then the first race was amazing. I was second behind Tom and then made a little mistake and dropped back but still managed a 4th place which was really good for my first sand race in MX2 and on such a rough track. I had a massive start crash in the second race and had to sort out my forks in the pitlane it took some time to do that and then I crashed again and damaged the bike a bit more. I struggled but will take the good parts from that first moto. We go to Argentina now. It will be my first time and I hear it is a long way but a really nice track.
More like this…
Chambers Racing Husqvarna pair on their tough Valkenswaard test
Chambers Racing Husqvarna faced a tough test in miserable conditions at the MXGP of The Netherlands – round two of the FIM Motocross World Championship – at a wet Valkenswaard at the weekend.
One-two Valkenswaard result for delighted Tim Gajser
Team HRC’s Tim Gajser showed his continued improvement in the sand by posting excellent one-two moto results, tying him for the GP overall at the MXGP of the Netherlands.
Tony Cairoli on being happy with Valkenswaard result despite missing podium
Tony Cairoli, still competing with a tweaked right knee, rode two solid motos in the draining conditions at the MXGP of Netherlands to record a 7-5 scorecard and only just missed out on a successive rostrum appearance.