Herlings is out

KTM race chief Pit Beirer: "We do yet know the full extent of Jeffrey's injuries to date, but he has broken a femur and there is also something with his hip."

 

Apparantly the Dutch teenager was chasing down Roan van de Moosdijk in the first heat of the kids versus champs 85cc race when he crashed hard and sustained the injuries which would appear likely to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.

 

Prior to the injury Jeffrey had been looking to tie up his third consecutive world title at Loket next Sunday, but now the question is whether or not his chasers can take advantage to snatch the throne from his grasp.

 

With 200 points still available Dylan Ferrandis's penalty in the first moto of the Finnish GP could prove decisive as he currently trails Herlings by 191 points and can only afford to drop eight more through eight motos.

 

Romain Febvre's chances are not much rosier as he trails by 178 so can only drop a further 21, which probably means that the title will stay with KTM as Jordi Tixier, 145 down, must score 146 from eight motos, an average of just over 18 points ie. fourth per moto.

 

Tixier has proven in the past, when Herlings was absent and he was left as team leader, or at home GPs, that he does handle pressure well, indeed that is the reason KTM decided to let him go for 2015. Now they could be handing the number one plate to CLS Kawasaki - for whom Jord will race next year.