Herlings to use the races to aid his return from injury. Record Grand Prix winner returns to his roots.

Five-time Motocross world champion Jeffrey Herlings has confirmed that he will be a guest starter at the ADAC MX Masters events in Gaildorf on 5th/6th August and Tensfeld on 26th/27th August. The decision sees the 2008 ADAC MX Junior Cup champion return to his roots. In an interview, he discusses the series, events and tracks, as well as the stiff competition.

Herlings was once the wonder child of the Motocross World Championship. He won his first world championship event at the tender age of 15, shortly after making his debut, and was crowned world champion a year later. This spring, the 28-year-old set a new record for the most race wins in the world championship and the most Grand Prix victories – a record that had stood since 2006. Herlings has now climbed onto the stop step of the world championship podium as overall winner no fewer than 103 times, and has won the world championship on five occasions.

Herlings is looking to use the ADAC MX Masters races in Gaildorf and Tensfeld to get back up to speed ahead of the coming world championship races, having injured his neck back in June. Defending ADAC MX Masters champion Max Nagl, who led the series going into the summer break, and his fellow riders may not find it easy to rein in the flying Dutchman, but anything is possible in motor racing. The fans at the tracks in Gaildorf and Tensfeld will certainly be the real winners – rarely do you get to see such a high-class rider in the flesh. In an interview, Herlings explains how the guest starts came about, what his expectations are, and how important the ADAC MX Junior Cup was to his career.

We are pleased that you will line up at the ADAC MX Masters events in Gaildorf and Tensfeld. How did that come about?

Jeffrey Herlings: “I know that the ADAC MX Masters is a really professional championship, and the starts will help me to rhythm again for the GPs after my injury-enforced break. I prefer to race than simply to do practice laps. Gaildorf is a legendary former Grand Prix track, so I am happy to be going there, even if the ground is very hard. As a Dutchman, I really like Tensfeld, because it is a sandy track. I think that is also where I rode my first ADAC Race back in 2006. I very much liked the track back then and have watched a few videos of it from recent years, and it still looks really good.“

How are you after your neck injury at the MXGP in Teutschenthal?

“I am doing pretty well again now. I have a check-up this Monday, at which I hope to receive permission to start practicing on my bike again. I can already do everything without any restrictions in my everyday life and fitness training – like cycling, rowing, swimming, and so on. So I’m hoping to be back on the bike from next week.”

You rode in the ADAC MX Junior Cup as a young lad. What are your fondest memories of that time?

“Winning the championship in the 85cc class in 2008 was definitely my greatest achievement in the ADAC series. After that, I never contested a full championship again. Instead, I just rode in selected races. The last time I did so, in 2019, it was very professional. That is why I am happy to be returning. The tracks have always been very good and there are a lot of tracks with solid ground, on which I was able to practice and improve.”

It is not the first time you have made guest appearances in this series. At what level do you view the ADAC MX Masters?

“For me, the ADAC MX Masters is at a very high level in Europe. It is super professional, very well organised, and the tracks are usually very good. As I said, I prefer to go racing than to do practice laps, so I am happy to be competing there.”

What do you expect from the races in Gaildorf and Tensfeld?

“For Gaildorf, my expectation is to find my rhythm again and hopefully finish in the top three. For Tensfeld, my goal is to win. By then I should have had a month of training on my bike again. In Gaildorf, I expect to have only spent a few days on the KTM, so my expectations are not so high. I view it as good practice, but it would obviously be nice to win there too.”

It is not unheard of for the “locals” to be really fast on home soil. Can Max Nagl, Tom Koch and Henry Jacobi put you under pressure?

“Absolutely, 100 percent, especially in Gaildorf. Although I have won 103 Grands Prix, I am still weaker on tacks like that and not as strong as on a sandy surface like in Tensfeld. I am sure they can put me under pressure and compete with me. I never underestimate the local heroes. I have learned that in Germany, France and Great Britain: on their own tracks, they are very, very good. It will definitely not be a stroll in the park.”

This year, you broke the record for the most Grand Prix wins. How important are records like that to you?

“It feels fantastic. I have broken two of the biggest three records – race wins, Grand Prix victories and world titles. Ok, I haven’t broken the title record, but I do have the most race wins and most GP victories. They are goals that I have worked towards all my life. It is fantastic to have achieved them, and I am really happy to have done so. I would really like to get to ten or more championships too. However, given all the injuries I have suffered, I am pretty certain that that will not happen. Still, I am quite happy to have my name against those two major records.”

What is your goal for the rest of the season?

“To be honest, I just want to go racing, have fun and try to get the best results possible. After an injury, I prefer to get straight back to racing. The first few races will definitely be tough, as I was in a neck brace for four weeks and could not do any training. Nor is it easy to take time out from riding in the middle of the season. So, I just want to do my best, have fun, do a lot of racing and still enjoy a few highlights – like winning a Grand Prix or two. That would be awesome.”

Anyone wanting to see Jeffrey Herlings live in the ADAC MX Masters, and to get the five-time world championship’s signature during an autograph session can purchase advance tickets online now.

Tickets Gaildorf: eventbrite.de

Tickets Tensfeld: motorsport.adac-sh.de