Five-time world champion, Jeffrey Herlings has won the French GP with a consistent 2-1 performance with his big rival, Lucas Coenen going 1-2. In what was a brilliant battle in the final laps of the race the veteran showed he isn’t going anywhere, any time soon. Coenen showed brilliance, but just couldn’t match the Dutchman. Third overall was defending champion, Romain Febvre. Bavo Swijgers image

Jeffrey Herlings: I had to go to the line, and I haven’t ridden this fast in a long time. This dude is fast (Coenen). I am interested to see what he can do in America when he goes there. I think for 20 laps it was demanding and then I started cramping. It isn't an easy track but I want to give up to the team.

Lucas Coenen: Second moto regrouped and I thought I was faster and backing down a bit, but I felt I was the strongest today, but its just two points in the championship. Its a long way to go.

Championship points are now Lucas Coenen 286 points, Jeffrey Herlings 284pts, Romain Febvre 231pts, Tim Gajser 223pts and Tom Vialle 219pts. Coenen with a two points gap over Herlings as we head to Germany next weekend.

MXGP Moto Two

Coenen in the lead of the second MXGP moto, but a huge crash with a bunch of riders involved. Herlings in second and then de Wolf, Renaux, Fernandez, Febvre, Adamo, Watson, Pancar, and Jonass 10th, but red flag. Vialle and Gajser were involved in the crash. Gajser and Vialle out of the restart as they wasn’t allowed to use their second bikes.

The restart and Herlings with the lead ahead of Coenen, de Wolf, Renaux, Febvre, Adamo, Fernandez, Watson, Horgmo, and Oliver 10th. Again, a bunch of riders crashing in the first corner and the straight after the first corner.

Herlings quickly with a 1.6 second lead over Coenen and Coenen a similar gap ahead of de Wolf in third, then came Renaux, Febvre, Adamo, Fernandez, Horgmo, Wason and Oliver. Coenen onto Herlings as those two fight the moto and GP win.

Herlings again got away from Coenen, with Febvre passing Renaux for fourth spot and the top ten on lap three was Herlings, Coenen, De Wolf, Febvre, Renaux, Fernandez, Adamo, Horgmo, Oliver, and Bonacorsi.

Febvre all over de Wolf for third spot with Renaux losing a little ground on those two, and the lead by Herlings was 1.6 seconds, with Coenen nearly 10 seconds ahead of de Wolf in third. Coenen all over Herlings on lap six as the youngster takes on the veteran.

Febvre into third as he pushed de Wolf out of the way in a corner. Top ten on lap eight was Herlings, Coenen, Febvre, De Wolf, Renaux, Fernandez, Adamo, Horgmo, Bonacorsi and Oliver. De Wolf back into third place, but then Febvre repassed the Dutchman. Renaux into fourth as de Wolf dropped to fifth place.

De Wolf and Renaux banging bars as the two collide and De Wolf back in fourth place, but the Yamaha rider not allowing him to get away. Renaux back into fourth with a nice pass. Herlings remained in front of Coenen on lap 10- and 12-minutes remaining.

Coenen again all over Herlings, but the five time world champion remaining calm in front. Just under 10 minutes to go and this is usually Herlings time, but this young Belgian seems to have the same type of endurance as the Dutchman.

Herlings suddenly gapped Coenen a little with the distance between the two now two seconds. Febvre 14 seconds back in third, then Renaux, Fernandez and de Wolf, who made a mistake and dropped spots. Adamo, Horgmo, Oliver and Forato in 10th.

Herlings and Coenen doing similar lap times and nothing in it in the final laps, as Febvre was 16 seconds back in third place. Coenen would close up and then Herlings would get away again. Coenen again all over Herlings and pushing in the final three laps. Herlings wins the moto and the GP as he beats the young lion Coenen.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 34:14.778; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), +0:00.940; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:32.937; 4. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:33.869; 5. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:54.784; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:56.795; 7. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:12.282; 8. Alberto Forato (ITA, Fantic), +1:15.274; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:19.220; 10. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Ducati), +1:20.546; 11. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Kawasaki), +1:22.148; 12. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), +1:31.637; 13. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +1:46.263; 14. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), -1 lap(s); 15. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 16. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 18. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 19. Brian Hsu (GER, Honda), -1 lap(s); 20. Bogdan Krajewski (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 21. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 22. Romain Pape (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 23. Federico Tuani (ITA, Honda), -2 lap(s); 24. Shaun Vinel (FRA, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 25. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -16 lap(s); 26. Maxime Desprey (FRA, Yamaha), -19 lap(s);

MXGP - GP Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 47 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 47 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 34 p.; 4. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 34 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 33 p.; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 30 p.; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 27 p.; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 22 p.; 9. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 20 p.; 10. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 19 p.; 11. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 19 p.; 12. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 17 p.; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 16 p.; 14. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 16 p.; 15. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 13 p.; 16. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 13 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 11 p.; 18. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 10 p.; 19. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 5 p.; 20. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 3 p.; 21. Brian Hsu (GER, HON), 3 p.; 22. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 2 p.; 23. Bogdan Krajewski (FRA, YAM), 1 p.; 24. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 0 p.; 25. Romain Pape (FRA, YAM), 0 p.; 26. Federico Tuani (ITA, HON), 0 p.; 27. Shaun Vinel (FRA, YAM), 0 p.; 28. Maxime Desprey (FRA, YAM), 0 p.; 29. Brice Maylin (FRA, YAM), 0 p.; 30. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 0 p.;

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 286 points; 2. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 284 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 231 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 223 p.; 5. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 219 p.; 6. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 218 p.; 7. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 187 p.; 8. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 177 p.; 9. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 171 p.; 10. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 126 p.; 11. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 115 p.; 12. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 114 p.; 13. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 89 p.; 14. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 85 p.; 15. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 16. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 55 p.; 17. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 49 p.; 18. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 45 p.; 19. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 41 p.; 20. Thibault Benistant (FRA, HON), 40 p.; 21. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 39 p.; 22. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, DUC), 34 p.; 23. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 28 p.; 24. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 8 p.; 25. Enzo Lopes (BRA, HON), 7 p.; 26. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 7 p.; 27. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, YAM), 5 p.; 28. Jose Butron (ESP, KTM), 5 p.; 29. Joaquin Poli (ARG, KAW), 5 p.; 30. Noah Ludwig (GER, KTM), 4 p.; 31. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 4 p.; 32. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 3 p.; 33. Brian Hsu (GER, HON), 3 p.; 34. Lars van Berkel (NED, FAN), 3 p.; 35. Arnaud Tonus (SUI, YAM), 2 p.; 36. Bogdan Krajewski (FRA, YAM), 1 p.;