Five time world motocross champion, Jeffrey Herlings on the factory HRC machine has taken his first victory on the Honda, scoring a 2-1 result at the Lierop international race in The Netherlands. The Dutchman will now head to the sand track of Argentina, with a lot confidence, as he beat the current world MXGP champion, Romain Febvre, who scored 1-2 finishes. Third overall was Calvin Vlaanderen with 3-3 scores.

After a lap of the second 450 moto, it was Herlings who led, followed by Febvre, Nagl, Bonacorsi, Vlaanderen, Watson Kooier, Sterry, Koch, Coldenhoff, in 10th. After four laps Febvre was into the lead and held a 1.8 second gap over Herlings. Vlaanderen was third, then Kooier, Watson, Bonacorsi, Nagl, Coldenhoff, Van De Moosdik and Van Doninck.

A lap later, the lead remained the same, as both Febvre and Herlings were getting away from Vlaanderen, who was 10 seconds back. Lap seven and Febvre remained in the lead, with Herlings 1.6 back, then Vlaanderen 13 seconds back.

Top ten on lap eight was Febvre, Herlings, Vlaanderen, Watson, Coldenhoff, Van Doninck, Bonacorsi, Van de Moosdijk, Brumann and Nagl 10th. Lap nine and Herlings into the lead with Febvre 1.2 seconds back. Sterry into 10th as Nagl dropped to 11th.

On lap 11, the lead by Herlings was 3.7 seconds, with Vlaanderen now 25 seconds back in third, and Watson in fourth 42 seconds off the pace of Herlings. Herlings turned up the speed and was 8.1 ahead of the Frenchman and showing that old Herlings speed from his prime. Herlings wins the moto and the overall, with Febvre second in the moto and second overall and Vlaanderen third in the race and third overall.

Bavo Swijgers image