KTM Racing Announces Herlings to Stay in MX2 for 2015
OutdoorHub 06.30.14
KTM Racing, after consultations with their factory rider Jeffrey Herlings announce that the Dutch rider will remain as part of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and continue to contest the MX2 World Championship in 2014.
Herlings, the MX2 World Champion in 2012 and 2013, is heading for his third world title in 2014. To date he has won ten of the 11 rounds in the current series – he did not compete in Brazil because of a shoulder injury. He has also won 20 of 22 motos in which he started, finishing second in the remaining two.
The Red Bull-sponsored Dutch teenager is still only 19 and Pit Beirer, Head of KTM Motorsports, said the decision was made based on the fact that Herlings is still considered very young to move up to the MXGP class. Herlings competes on the KTM 250 SX-F machine.
“After consultations with Jeffrey we have decided that it is good for him to remain in MX2 for another season, primarily because he is still very young. He also has the opportunity to break a lot of records in our sport,” Beirer said. He added that Jeffrey is looking at a potential additional 10-year racing career in the senior ranks so it made sense for him to spend one more year in MX2.
Herlings to race at Unadilla in August
Beirer also announced that KTM was sending Herlings to race one single round of the US Pro MX and he will start in the Lites class at Unadilla on August 9, 2014 in New Berlin, New York. He said it would be a good opportunity for Herlings to race in a fresh new environment and will also keep him in racing mode during a gap in the world championship calendar.
“Jeffrey is having a great year, but it’s important to keep him motivated. Sending him to race in Unadilla fits perfectly with the summer break in the world championship season. Roger DeCoster and the Red Bull KTM Factory Team are looking forward to having Jeffrey compete in this one-off race and it will be very good experience for him,” Beirer said.