Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings is well known as the fastest sand rider in the world and today he proved it as he came from sixth on the first lap to pass race leader and team-mate Antonio Cairoli on the last.
Cairoli was beaten to the holeshot by Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Max Nagl but it only took one lap for Cairoli to snatch the lead from the German and begin to leave the field behind.
As Cairoli led the race Team HRC's Tim Gajser moved passed Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Jeremy Van Horebeek and then Max Nagl for second.
The majority of the passes were going on behind the top two and they were made by Jeffrey Herlings, the “Bullet”. From sixth Herlings passed four riders in three laps. From there he began to chip away at #222’s lead.
Following the moves of Herlings was Team Suzuki World MXGP’s Arminas Jasikonis on his way toward third.
Gajser dropped to 4th on the 5th lap just ahead of Nagl. Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP Team’s Romain Febvre was riding on the bubble of the top five the entire race and it wasn’t until the final lap the he made on pass on Nagl to secure the 5th.
Back at the front it was another last lap pass that made the difference but instead it was for the win. Herlings took the lead with half of the last lap to go and crossed the finish half a second ahead of Cairoli.
While Jasikonis crossed the line 3rd, failure to comply with FIM noise regulations penalized him 5 positions to 8th officially. The final result was Gajser 3rd, Febvre 4th, and Nagl 5th.
“I'm very happy with the result, it is a track that fits me well. I’m happy with today, being in pole position again, I think it is the second time this season, I haven’t had it many times but I’m focused for tomorrow,” said Herlings.
