CYCLE NEWS RIDER OF THE YEAR AND FIM MXGP WORLD CHAMPION JEFFREY HERLINGS
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Feature
in 2014. But 2018 needed fresh
levels of submergence.
For the former party boy with an
obsession for career stats (to be
matched by a growing bank ac-
count), dabbling with fast cars and
the inevitable attention from girls
as well as a penchant for fast food,
a crossroads had been reached.
"He decided he wanted it
more than anybody else," says
Gruebel. "He is very talented and
he has such a big heart. He never
gives up. He puts so much effort
in, perhaps more than anybody
else in terms of riding hours dur-
ing the week. I don't know if it is
necessary to ride that much…but
that is just him."
Herlings spoke of effort and
sacrifice; of living "like a monk." His
rate of practice and training could
not be matched by those who tried,
like teammate and friend Glenn
Coldenhoff, and grand prix rivals
who would regularly see the #84
clocking lap after lap.
"When the results are there,
then the sacrifice doesn't matter
so much," Herlings reasoned.
"If you are out front then you
are happy in your daily life. Last
year, when I was struggling at the
beginning of the season with in-
juries, I was not happy and it was
tough in my private life. My friends
accused me of being grumpy. I
was not doing good 'at work' and
felt it everywhere.
"I've done everything I possibly
could: I've given my life for it this
year and to see this result coming
back is all I could have asked for,"
he beamed at Assen after confirm-
ing his number-one status. "It was
physically and mentally tough."
His rate of victory created serial
success. "[But] the mind switches
immediately to the next race and
thoughts of: What could be better
or improved? Was it something of
my performance? My fitness? My
starts? Race strategy? I always
want to get the best out of myself."
Cairoli was undoubtedly a
target. Number-222 had earned
seven premier class titles on the
back of his remorseless capacity
"I've done
everything I
possibly could:
I've given my life
for it this year
and to see this
result coming
back is all I could
have asked for."
– Jeffrey Herlings
