Herlings Takes Over MXGP Points Lead;
Everts Makes Debut
J
effrey Herlings is the new
red-plate holder in the 2021
MXGP Championship after win-
ning both motos at the Grand
Prix of Sardegna, located on the
Italian island in the Mediterranean
Sea, September 19. The Red Bull
KTM rider won both motos (for
the first time this season), while
teammate Jorge Prado went 2-2
for second overall.
The sweep puts Herlings into
the championship lead by one
point over defending champ Tim
Gajser, who came into the race
recovering from a broken col-
larbone (and surgery) suffered
during the week while training.
Gajser was involved in a first-
turn incident in the first moto that
put him in the back of the pack,
from which he could only muster
a 19th-place finish. Gajser started
better in moto two but the Honda
rider, who wasn't feeling 100
percent due to injury, finished
eighth.
Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) was
third overall with a 3-3.
Herlings is on top of the
leaderboard with 371 points to
Gajser's 370. Febvre is third with
367, followed by Prado with 359.
Antonio Cairoli, who recently
announced his upcoming retire-
ment, was injured in practice,
and he did not race. It is not
known yet if the injury will prevent
him from representing Italy in this
weekend's Motocross of Nations.
"With the injuries to Tim and
Tony it is a sad way to take this
red plate," Herlings said. "It
means nothing at the moment. I
know what injury is like, so hope-
IN
THE
WIND
P44
Jeffrey Herlings is
the new MXGP points
leader after winning
both motos at the
MXGP of Sardegna.
PHOTOS: RAY ARCHER
