With 40.000 fans watching, five-time world motocross champion, Jeffrey Herlings put on a prime “The Bullet” performance, with a stunning victory at the Belgian GP, held at the Lommel circuit. At times being five or six seconds a lap quicker than his rivals, this was one of those races, we will NOT forget. The HRC factory rider eventually winning by more than 40 seconds and this performance reminded us all how good this legend is.

Bavo Swijgers image

Jeffrey Herlings: It was really good, super pumped about my riding today. I had a nice holeshot and looking forward to the second race. The track is lovely, I love this track. I actually have a circuit near my house that is the same and I just love it. Looking forward to the second one.

Second was an also impressive Kay De Wolf, who while not matching Herlings speed, was too good for former and present world champions in Gajser, Febvre, Vialle and Adamo, who all fought for top six positions. This isn’t a field of average racers.

Championship points are now effrey Herlings 650 points, Lucas Coenen 566pts, Romain Febvre 563pts, Tim Gajser 516pts and Andrea Adamo 434pts. Herlings points lead is now 84 points over Coenen and 87 to Febvre.

MXGP Moto One

Herlings with the holeshot and Adamo next, came Gajser, Vialle, de Wolf, Gifting, Febvre, Ferrandis, Van De Moosdijk, and Renaux. After one lap it was Herlings, Gajser, De Wolf, Adamo, Vialle, Febvre, Fernandez, Gifting, Van De Moosdijk.

Herlings quickly with a 2.5 second lead over Gajser, with de Wolf 4.3 back, and Adamo 7.7 behind the leader. Geerts into ninth place with a pass on Van De Moosdijk, who dropped to 11th as Renaux also went past.

Vialle into fourth place with a pass on De Wolf, and Herlings extended to 5.5 seconds as De Wolf was all over Gajser for second place. De Wolf into second and 6.6 behind Herlings. Geerts a mistake and dropping back through the field.

Herlings turning it up with a 10 second lead and his lap times three seconds quicker than that of De Wolf in this stage of the race. Very quickly, the gap was 13 seconds and this is prime Jeffrey Herlings today.

Anyone who loves motocross, will be loving how Herlings is controlling this circuit and race as the gap went to 14 second and again, more than three seconds a lap quicker than de Wolf. Remember, these guys in second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth are all former world champions and not rookies or mid-field riders.

Ridiculous as the gap goes to 20.4 seconds and Herlings last lap four seconds quicker than De Wolf, and we are really seeing the 2016, 2018, 2021 version of “The Bullet”. 13 minutes remaining and we all know the Dutchman comes strong around this time. Top ten on lap eight was Herlings, de Wolf, Gajser, Vialle, Febvre, Adamo, Fernandez, Gifting, Renaux and Watson a nice 10th place.

Lap 10 and the gap was 26 seconds and Herlings continued to clock around two minutes a lap with everyone else around 2.04 minutes a lap. Herlings just being brutal to his rivals with a 30 second lead on lap 11. De Wolf, Gajser, Vialle and Febvre all rather close together, but no passing just yet.

Seventh placed Fernandez a minute behind and as riders’ times drop, Herlings continues to do two-minute laps. De Wolf did a two minutes six seconds, so Herlings six seconds quicker than second placed man in their last lap. Gajser all over De Wolf for second place, but they are 34 and 36 seconds of Herlings pace.

With four minutes and two laps remaining, Herlings slowing and doing just 2.02 laps and de Wolf also doing 2.02, but the gap is 35 seconds. Gajser lost ground on De Wolf and Febvre now onto Gajser.

Top ten on lap 13 was Herlings, de Wolf, Gajser, Febvre, Vialle, Adamo, Fernandez, Gifting, Watson, Renaux 10th. Herlings wins from de Wolf and Gajser, with other world champions, Febvre, Vialle and Adamo rounding out the top six.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, Honda), 34:33.732; 2. Kay de Wolf (NED, Husqvarna), +0:45.474; 3. Tim Gajser (SLO, Yamaha), +0:46.826; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:58.311; 5. Tom Vialle (FRA, Honda), +1:25.908; 6. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), +1:32.593; 7. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:37.688; 8. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:42.078; 9. Ben Watson (GBR, Triumph), +1:51.325; 10. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:58.772; 11. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +2:06.188; 12. Jago Geerts (BEL, Beta), +2:07.869; 13. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), -1 lap(s); 14. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 15. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 16. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Ducati), -1 lap(s); 17. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Jorgen-Matthias Talviku (EST, Fantic), -1 lap(s); 20. Cato Nickel (GER, Honda), -2 lap(s); 21. Thomas Vermijl (BEL, GASGAS), -2 lap(s); 22. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), -7 lap(s); 23. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -17 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification

1. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, HON), 650 points; 2. Lucas Coenen (BEL, KTM), 566 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 563 p.; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, YAM), 516 p.; 5. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 434 p.; 6. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 431 p.; 7. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 418 p.; 8. Tom Vialle (FRA, HON), 389 p.; 9. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 323 p.; 10. Pauls Jonass (LAT, KAW), 273 p.; 11. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, DUC), 245 p.; 12. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 230 p.; 13. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 207 p.; 14. Alberto Forato (ITA, FAN), 200 p.; 15. Oriol Oliver (ESP, KTM), 187 p.; 16. Jago Geerts (BEL, BET), 143 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, FAN), 136 p.; 18. Ben Watson (GBR, TRI), 114 p.; 19. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, KTM), 81 p.; 20. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KTM), 79 p.; 21. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, KTM), 69 p.; 22. Rick Elzinga (NED, KTM), 55 p.; 23. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 50 p.; 24. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 50 p.; 25. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, DUC), 48 p.;