HERLINGS PERFECT IN PORTUGAL
J
effrey Herlings (Red Bull
KTM) pulled another double
victory, this time at the Portu-
guese circuit of Agueda, April
14-15. And Jorge Prado made it
another KTM sweep by winning
the MX2 class.
Herlings' GP started with the
first-moto holeshot and it would
just get better and better as the
day went on. He dominated both
motos to extend his points lead
in the MXGP Championship over
teammate Antonio Cairoli to 16.
"It was a perfect weekend,
perfect starts, it can't be any
better, same as last weekend
and I just want to keep it going
this way," Herlings said. "I have
so much motivation in the tank
to keep going, I feel like we are
a good position right now and I
can't wait for Russia already."
Cairoli took second overall
but had to work for it, especially
in the first moto when he got off
to a so-so start and lost a few
positions when he stalled his
engine. The defending champ
clawed and scratched his way
into second place after making a
last-second pass on Tim Gajser
(Honda HRC). In the second
moto, Cairoli again fought his
way into second, crossing the
finish line a distant 34 seconds
behind Herlings. It was his 150th
career GP podium.
"I feel good, it is a good
championship but it is very dif-
ficult, you know it is always me
or Jeffrey at the moment and it is
difficult to stay in front always,"
Cairoli said. "I'm looking forward
to another race in two weeks and
I'm going to try to build up to a
better physical condition."
Third overall went to Gajser
(3-5), marking the former cham-
pion's first podium of the year,
while Yamaha's Romain Febvre—
another former number one—was
fourth overall with a 5-4.
A couple of riders took big hits
in their quest for the champion-
ship. In the first moto, third in
points Clement Desalle (Kawa-
IN
THE
WIND
P54
Jeffrey Herlings
extended his MXGP
points lead with
another 1-1, this time
in Portugal.
PHOTOGRAPHY
RAY
ARCHER/KTM
IMAGES
