Jeffrey Herlings 2021 MXGP World Champion (2024)

Once again,Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlingshas gone and made history, winning one of the most disputed seasons of theFIM Motocross World Championshipto date.

Throughout his career, Herlings had to overcome many obstacles and injuries, but in true champion spirit he fought back every time. He won his first national championship in the 65cc category at the age of eight in 2002 and entered his first international event in 2006.

In 2006, Herlings contested in the EMX85 class and finished 12^thand bettered his result the following year to finish fourth and sixth in the FIM Junior Motocross World Championship.

In 2008, Herlings made himself a household name as he won both the European and World titles in the 85cc class. By 2009 he was on a 250cc bike and took on the EMX250 Championship and just a year later he made his debut in MX2.

In his rookie season, the Bullet finished sixth in the standings and the following year he was runner-up to Ken Roczen.

In 2012, the Dutchman claimed his first world title in MX2, followed by another in 2013. 2014 and 2015 were tough for Herlings as he struggled with various injuries but in 2016, he bounced back in full-fitness and secure his third title in MX2 before making the move up to MXGP for the following year.

Upon his rookie season in MXGP, Herlings finished second just fifty points behind Antonio Cairoli. More determined than ever to get his first title the following year, Herlings was unstoppable as he went on to win a total of 33 races from a possible 40. He secured his first MXGP title on home soil in Assen, the Netherlands, 151 points in front of his closest rival Cairoli.

The now 5-time world champion had many obstacles to overcome to get his second MXGP title too, entering the season off the back of an injury he picked up in Faenza last season and then the decision to take time off to recover from his previous foot injury. Herlings had missed a lot of bike time and that was evident as he lined up for the races in Orlyonok. The ‘Bullet’ himself admitted that he was not at the level to be racing with the rest of the field at that point – which already was very competitive.

Things were starting to look up by the time we headed to Oss for the MXGP of the Netherlands and while many expected Herlings to dominate on home soil, the reality was different. A collision on the opening lap of race one, left the Dutchman with a shoulder injury (he went on to win the race despite that). As a result, he was forced to miss the MXGP of Czech Republic.

Keen on making his return as soon as possible, we saw Herlings back by the Grand Prix in Lommel where much to everyone’s surprise he won the first race and finished fifth in race two, for second overall. Adamant to stay out of trouble for the rest of the season and keep fighting for the title until the very end, Herlings would be tested more than once after that.

Since making his return in Lommel, Herlings would go on to claim nine consecutive podiums, apart from the two in Pietramurata as a result of crashes as well as a DNF, which took his championship lead from +24 to just +1 by the time we entered the final race of the triple header in Trentino.

This season of the FIM Motocross World Championship was by far one of the most exciting ones we have witnessed in recent decades. The battle between Herlings,Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Romain FebvreandTeam HRC’s Tim Gajsercarried on until the season finale in Mantova, where the trio were separated by just a few points. But the main talking point was that final race, where Herlings and Febvre entered tied on points.