Cycle News

Cycle News Issue 50 December 18

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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VOL. 55 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 18, 2018 P77 since the inception of the current four-stroke formula in 2004. The enormity of his achievement and (fittingly) stretching his career win count to 84 was hitting home as he confessed that a repeat in 2019 would be hard to rep- licate. Can Herlings continue to operate on the same level? The roulette wheel of moto- cross odds when it comes to injury is weighted against him. He broke a bone in 2018 but escaped quite lightly. Will the rate of effort and sacrifice be too much to crank out again? Is burnout an issue? There is genuine concern that Herlings could join the "27 club" and be like Carmichael, Villopoto, Dungey, even MotoGP legend Casey Stoner and call timeout at an early stage. "It is hard to say," Gruebel admitted towards the end of the season. "It's not predictable. He is the strongest now but over- night things can change. The human body can be a strange element and can play tricks on you. He really trains a lot but then other people did before him, as well, and they were okay in their particular sport. "I think, next year, we can expect the same Jeffrey again," he adds. "He is still hungry and eager to win. Some guys do have that big goal and then they take a step back or fall into that hole, but I don't think that will happen with him. He is keen to have another title and I think we'll continue to see the best of him in 2019." "I still think Jeffrey is 'growing' and hasn't reached his full poten- tial," said KTM VP of off-road Rob- ert Jonas, somewhat worryingly for the rest of the MXGP gate. "I think Jeffrey is now in the best shape I have ever seen, and we have been racing through our careers together since we were on 65s," said 2016 champion and HRC rider Tim Gajser who negotiated the long lasting ef- fects of a nasty pre-season crash throughout most of '18. "He is really fast right now, and for sure, all the moto wins, race wins and GPs give you more confidence. He knows when he comes to the races then he will win, and that's the mental side. He is definitely strong in the head." Set for life, a multi cham- pion, on a KTM for another two years (possibly three due to the binds of his contract) the best Dutch rider in the history of the sport—and Dutch motorcycling in general—Herlings still has one big fat carrot dangling ahead. He needs another 17 grand prix wins to surpass Everts' standing as the most prolific rider ever. It is a tantalizing and realistic goal. For 2018 he has the knowl- edge that he is the fastest dirt bike rider in the world and the most decorated champion in the FIM cannon. "Thinking like that can give you a lot of confidence," he pondered to us this year. "But [it's] also not that good some- times because it brings a lot of pressure. You feel like you have to prove it day-in-day-out, year-in- year-out and sometimes you don't feel it. It's tough because there are some days where I'm tired or carrying a small injury. I feel that I don't need to win every race…as long as I can try and win the ones where I am feeling good then that's okay for me." CN

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