VOL. 51 ISSUE 44 NOVEMBER 4, 2014 P23
HERLINGS BACK FOR MORE
T
wo-time MX2 World Cham-
pion Jeffrey Herlings has
signed a new contract with the
Red Bull KTM team that runs
through the end of the 2017 sea-
son, the Dutchman staying with
the team with which he began his
career as a 15-year-old in 2009.
"I've now had five seasons with
KTM and I'm very happy that Pit
[Beirer—the head of KTM Motors-
port] is giving me a chance to stay
with the team for another three
years," Herlings said. "The team
has done a great job and I hope
we can continue with good news
and good wins in the future."
Herlings rode his first full MX2
season with Red Bull KTM in
2010 and became the youngest
ever MX2 Grand Prix winner in
April of that year in front of his
home crowd at Valkenswaard.
Since then he has earned two
World Championships and 43
Grand Prix wins. This year he
had a streak of 18 race wins in
a row before suffering a broken
femur that forced him out for the
next three rounds of the series.
Herlings came back for the final
round in Mexico, trying to take
the title while riding with his still-
injured leg. He ended up losing
the championship to his team-
mate Jordi Tixier.
"We are very pleased to have
reached agreement with Jef-
frey to ride for the factory team
through to the end of 2017," Beir-
er said. "Anyone who is a follow-
er of the sport recognizes that he
is a rider of passion and excep-
tional skill and we are very proud
that he will be on our bikes and
in our factory team in the coming
seasons."
Jeffrey Herlings will ride KTMs for
at least another two years.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
S.TAGLIONI/KTM
IMAGES
GROEMM TO BETA
B
eta USA signed Jesse
Groemm for the 2015 and
2016 off-road seasons. Groemm,
who finished second overall in
the 2014 Kenda AMA National
Enduro Series, will compete in
the GNCCs, on a Factory Beta
250 RR in the XC2 class, and in
the National Enduros, on a Fac-
tory Beta 300 RR.
"The past three years racing
National Enduros," says Gro-
emm. "I've learned a ton about
racing at a professional level and
I've learned some valuable life
lessons. My goals have been to
win a championship and earn a
factory ride. I'm excited to say I'm
riding for Factory Beta in 2015
and 2016; I'm
thankful for this
great opportunity
and I can't wait to
put a Beta on the
podium!"
Groemm is considered one
of the pre-race favorites in the
National Enduro Series for the
2015 season after landing on the
podium three times in 2014 and
winning the Rattlesnake National
Enduro in Pennsylvania.
"Jesse is a fantastic addition
to our team," says Tim Pilg, Beta
USA Marketing Manager for
Beta USA. "He finished second
last season in the National En-
duro Series and I feel, with his
talent, we will have a shot at a
couple titles next season. Our
Enduro/GNCC team is com-
plete with Cory Buttrick and Jus-
tin Sode as Jesse's teammates
and I am really excited to see
what next year brings."
Jesse Groemm
will make his
Beta debut at
the first Na-
tional Enduro
of 2015 on
February 1.
