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MXGP Valkenswaard: Can Herlings be stopped in the sand?

The FIM MXGP world championship pitches camp this weekend at Valkenswaard in Holland for round two where Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings starts as the odds-on favourite for victory in the 450cc class.The undisputed home hero, 23-year-old Herlings – who dominated last weekend’s opening round of the Dutch Masters – is possibly the greatest sand rider in the history of motocross and his record at the venue, less than an hour’s drive from his hometown of Oploo, speaks volumes.

From 2013 until 2016 he won every MX2 race he contested there – that’s eight world championship motos on the trot – and last year he finished second overall in his debut season in MXGP, despite still suffering the after-effects of a broken hand.

Of course, his team-mate and reigning champion Antonio Cairoli – who tied on points with Herlings at the opening round in Argentina – must be considered his main rival but the Sicilian hasn’t won at the MXGP of Europe since 2014.

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Also in the mix is Gautier Paulin for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team. The Frenchman won here in 2015 and 2017 and will be looking to improve on his disappointing sixth overall in Argentina.

So who else should we consider for a possible podium? Well, 2015 world champion Romain Febvre won here in 2016 and the Monster Energy Yamaha rider hinted at a return to form with fifth in Argentina and you can’t discount Belgian Clement Desalle on the Monster Energy Kawasaki to feature near the front.

Valkenswaard also marks the return of 2016 world champion Tim Gajser on the HRC Honda but don’t expect too much from the Slovenian who’s been sidelined since breaking his jaw at Mantova last month.

As far as British hopes go, Wilvo Yamaha’s Shaun Simpson, Tommy Searle on the Bike It DRT Kawasaki and Paulin’s team-mate Max Anstie have all shown they’ve got what it takes to win in the soft stuff and our money’s on Graeme Irwin – brother of Northern Irish road race stars Glenn and Andrew – to push into the top 15 for his ASA Hitachi KTM UK team.

Down in the MX2 class for 250cc four-strokes, defending champion Latvian Pauls Jonass dominated in Argentina on his Red Bull KTM and will be looking to repeat his double victory at Valkenswaard last year.

Sand is a specialist surface and growing up racing in the Baltic States hands Jonass a big advantage but Denmark has lots of similar terrain so expect Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Thomas Kjer Olson – second overall in Argentina – to chase him hard.

Young Aussie Hunter Lawrence on the 114 Motorsports Geico Honda was third at the opening round and will be keen to keep the momentum going before his move Stateside in 2019 and let’s not forget about 20-year-old Brit Ben Watson who forced his Kemea Yamaha into a career-best fourth overall in Argentina.

Next best of the British in Argentina was teenaged talent Conrad Mewse who brought his ASA Hitachi KTM UK machine home in 13th overall and will definitely be looking to improve dramatically on this and hopefully F&H Kawasaki’s Adam Sterry will have recovered from the hand injury that affected his result in South America.

Valksenswaard also marks the opening round of the European 300 and 125cc championships.

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Britain’s Brad Anderson will be looking to defend his EMX300 title on the big-bore Verde Substance two-stroke KTM against fierce opposition from fellow Brit James Dunn and his Dutch GL12 Racing KTM team-mate Mike Kras.

The 125cc class will mark the debut of Britain’s World Junior 85cc Champion Eddie Jay Wade on a full-sized machine.

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