Herlings to make Mexican waves
By TMX Archives on 30th Jul 14
Jeffrey Herlings has confirmed that hes set his sights on a return to racing at the final round of the 2014 world MX championship in Mexico if Red Bull KTM team-mate Jordi Tixier has reduced his points lead to less than 50 points.
The defending champion, who broke his femur last week at the Everts & Friends charity race in Genk, has a comfortable 102-point lead but with 150 points still available Tixier has a mathematical chance of catching him.
"That is eight weeks after the accident and I will do everything in my power to be there," said the two-time champ.
"There will not be a full GP line-up so I should be able to score points if necessary."
FIM chief medical officer David McManus confirmed at the weekend that Herlings will need clearance to race.
"As with all riders returning from injury he must get clearance from the FIM medical officer at the event - it will be either Martin Sycurek or Pieter Paul Vermeulen," he said.
"I understand that the fracture has been pinned and that his leg is not in plaster.
"If he is receiving physio and electro treatment - and I would expect that he is - then it is quite possible that his leg will be strong enough by then."
With a 1-2 in the title race Red Bull KTM are still in the driving seat but if Tixier - who leaves the team at the end of the season - does prevent the Dutch teenager claiming his hat-trick of MX2 crowns the champion will be racing a CLS Kawasaki in 2015.
"We have talked to different doctors and they have all said that if everything goes well and there is no inflammation, infection or whatever then after six weeks he should be able to start training again," said team Technical Co-ordinator Dirk Gruebel.
"Brazil [the penultimate round] is too optimistic in my opinion but Mexico is possible - although I don't know how many MX2 riders will show up there anyhow so he could score valuable points if necessary.
"He is going to look how things go in Lommel this weekend and then make a plan."
