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Herlings Returns And Wins In Turkey R ed Bull KTM's defending MXGP World Cham- pion, Jeffrey Herlings, finally returned to the top step of the podium at the penultimate round of the 2019 MXGP World Championship in Turkey, September 8, after spending most of the year out with injuries. Herlings went 1-1 on the day to take his only overall win of 2019, although there is still one race left to run, in China, next weekend. In the MX2 class, it was Red Bull KTM's cur- rent class champ Jorge Prado who went 1-1 on the day for the 13th time of 2019, out of 17 races. Herlings spent most of 2019 sidelined with injuries, but after returning to action at the Swed- ish GP (where he went DNF-4), he improved considerably in Turkey only one race later, going 1-1 on the day. "It is getting better and better. In Sweden, I wasn't that prepared, but now just after three weeks on the bike, it is amazing what I can do," Herlings said. "It has been a crazy weekend, and I am super happy with my win. I want to thank my mom, the team and everyone who supported me, and I wish to con- gratulate Glenn [Coldenhoff], he rode amazingly." Coldenhoff, Herlings' teammate, went 3-2 on the day for second overall, which is his worst result of the last three races. He won two races ago in Italy (1-1), and again in Sweden (1-2), and was only topped by his teammate in Turkey after Herlings passed him on the last lap of moto two. With one round left, he sits fourth in points, just 11 behind Rockstar Husqvarna's Gautier Paulin (who went 5-6 in Turkey). "We are close to the end of the Championship, and I really need those points, as I still have a chance for third in the standings," Coldenhoff said. "I'm pushing hard for that. I don't like to get passed on the last lap, but it's amazing to see two Dutch flags on the box, so I am really happy." Former MX2 World Champ, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna's Pauls Jonass, was third overall on the day, making for the second podium in a row. "We have been working hard with the team, and it's been a tough year, but finally I am feeling better and better, and it's nice to get back-to-back podi- ums," Jonass said. "I made some mistakes, but I feel good and look forward to the last GP in China." In MX2, it's been nothing but Jorge Prado all year long. The Red Bull KTM MX2 World Champ contin- ued this streak with yet another 1-1 showing in Turkey. He's won all but two MX2 overalls this year, and one of those he sat out with an injury. On top of that, he's only lost five motos all year, two of those due to injury. "I'm enjoying it, and the first race was very fun, while the second race was rougher, but I got the start, which is the key, and I want to go to the next round and get another one," Prado said. "I love winning GPs, and hopefully we can do it again next weekend." Yamaha's Jago Geerts took second overall in Turkey with a 2-5 score. "It was a pretty good weekend, a first good race for second place and the second race I got another good start, but I wasn't very comfortable, I finished fifth for second overall," Geerts said. "I am happy with that." And the Netherlands might have another up- and-coming star on its hands, as young Kawasaki- mounted Roan van de Moosdijk, who is the newly crowned EMX250 champ and is trained by fellow Dutch sandman Marc de Reuver, opened some eyes by taking his first-ever GP podium after going 5-3 for third overall. VOLUME 56 ISSUE 36 SEPTEMBER 10, 2019 P33 A healthy Jeffrey Herlings finally got back on track at the MXGP of Turkey. The defending champ went 1-1 for his first win of the season. PHOTO: RAY ARCHER