Decent weather represented a hefty contrast of racing conditions in Lugo, Spain for MXGP and after the deluge of rain and mud in Portugal the previous weekend. The soft terrain and compact layout of the Circuito Municipal Jorge Prado, a reasonably new facility and named after the current MXGP #1 due to its location in his hometown, drew Spanish fans to the fences for the second time in 2024.
On Saturday Jeffrey Herlings earned a 3rd place finish in the RAM Qualification Heat after a brief dice with Romain Febvre.
Herlings did not figure in the dash for either MXGP holeshot on Sunday but established an effective and consistent pace to gain positions and move up to 4th and 3rd. With Tim Gajser’s slip late in the second moto Herlings swooped to P2 that allowed him to confirm the second step of the box and his highest result of the season so far.
MXGP will hurtle onto a third race weekend on the bounce and will anticipate another large and noisy crowd at St Jean D’Angely for the Grand Prix of France.
Jeffrey Herlings, 4th and 2nd for 2nd overall in MXGP: “Last weekend in Portugal was pretty unfortunate because that could have been a win…but it also wasn’t that bad. I missed my starts a bit today but got to back to 4th and 2nd; I had a bit of luck with Tim crashing. I know I need to work on my weak points but the speed is coming back and I felt it again here. Pretty pumped with my second podium. Step-by-step we are on the way and I’m very happy to be up here again.”
Words by KTM – Images by Ray Archer