HERLINGS, PRADO TOP MXGP OF ASIA
R
ed Bull KTM's Jeffrey Her-
lings and Jorge Prado were
again atop of their game at the
MXGP of Asia, July 8. Herlings
opened up his championship
lead over teammate Antonio Cai-
roli with another double victory
in the MXGP class, and Prado
caught his teammate Pauls Jonas
in the MX2 Championship with
the overall victory.
Herlings was the fastest to the
first turn in the first MXGP moto
but lost the holeshot and lead
when he bobbled on the exit
of the corner. Taking the point
position was Cairoli with Gautier
Paulin (Rockstar Energy Husqvar-
na) in third and Clement Desalle
(Monster Energy Kawasaki) in
fourth.
The opening-lap action contin-
ued with Tim Gajser (Team HRC)
making his way to third, then
second. Jeremy Seewer (Wilvo
Yamaha) and Julien Lieber (Mon-
ster Energy Kawasaki) collided
on the uphill triple which sent
Seewer tumbling. Neither rider
was injured but Seewer did not
rejoin the race.
Herlings struggled to keep
momentum at the start of the
race and was passed by both
Gajser and Paulin on lap two,
with Romain Febvre (Monster
Energy Yamaha) closing in as
well. Cairoli's lead was then taken
by Gajser, and Febvre was past
Herlings, who was immediately
under pressure from Desalle.
Febvre and Paulin kicked off a
battle for third, swapping posi-
tions in front of Herlings. Herlings
took advantage of the battle and
was into fourth past Paulin, then
he got around Febvre. Before
long Herlings was also past
Cairoli. From that point Herlings
gained time on Gajser and made
a pass on lap 13 just before Feb-
vre crashed out of fourth. At the
finish Herlings took the win with
Gajser second and Cairoli third.
Moto two was started with
a second holeshot from Cai-
roli, with Herlings, Desalle, and
Seewer alongside. Febvre was
back for race two but fell on the
start and had to fight back from
dead last. Cairoli's good start
was short-lived when he dropped
five positions in the first three
IN
THE
WIND
P24
Jeffrey Herlings (84) extended his MXGP points lead with a double-moto win at the MX GP of Asia.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
RAY
ARCHER/KTM
IMAGES
