Cairoli Stars in Mantova
Sunday, February 19, 2012 | 9:40 PM
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PrintWorld MX1 champion Tony Cairoli took his factory 350 KTM to overall victory in Sunday’s Mantova Startcross international in Italy, but only won one of the three races. Jeffrey Herlings and Evgeny Bobryshev also won a race each.
In a three-race format that saw MX2 and MX1 bikes mixed in together, Cairoli romped to a first race win from 250F man Herlings who passed ex world champ David Philippaerts for second.
The Italian was then demoted a further place on the opening lap by Russian factory Honda rider Bobryshev who said he had arm pump in the rough, sandy conditions.
Race two saw Herlings clear off to an easy win after Cairoli was left mid-pack after a first corner clash. Much to the delight of the 5000-strong crowd, he pulled back through to second place after demoting Philippaerts. Bobryshev crashed, remounted then later stalled.
The final race was the best, as Cairoli pulled the holeshot but was hounded all the way by Bobryshev. The pair stayed locked together for the whole race, but with two laps to go Bobby put his all-new factory Honda in front and Cairoli had no answer. But his overall win was guaranteed. Herlings rode a lonely race to third place after passing fast-starting Marc De Reuver.
Cairoli took the MX1 overall from Philipparts and Bobryshev. The MX2 overall was totally dominated by the factory KTM team with Herlings best, followed by Jeremy Van Horebeek and Jordi Tixier.
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Can anyone say Herlings in 2013 for outdoors?
I can see him being lapped by RV.
Well, Jeffery Herlings is 16 years old and rides a 250, so if RV couldn´t lap him on a 450, it would be a bit of a let down and wouldn´t say much for RV.
Having said that I´d put my money on Herlings against RV in the sand, even on a 250. The guy is God in the loose stuff. Not surprising as he grew up in Holland and only ever raced sand as a kid. But hey, don´t let´s argue on this point. Lets just wait until the nations and then we will see.
BTW, Jeffery will win the MX2 title this year, and in 2013 you will have the pleasure of seeing him full time in AMA. KTM will have to replace Roczen in the lites class after King Kenny wins the out-door title this year, and then moves up to the 450´s in 2013. Then both of our finest European talent will be over in your banana republic to show you who´s who in the zoo. Boy, are you going to eat crow in 2013 when Kenny Roznase take the 450 title and Jeffery scoops the lites. I suppose though, if your lot are too chicken-shit to take us on over here in the official WORLD championship, we´ll just have to come over there to the land of the dunkin doughnut and fried chicken to prove our point. It´s what keeps me going. LOL.
Herlings is not gonna move to the USA in 2013 and don't take for granted he will win the title this year, he is the best on sand, no doubt about it, but there are just 2 races on sand this year, which is really stupid, they should have at least 4 sandy race tracks.
Never take race series results for granted.
Herlings can ride well on any surface.
At last years MX Des Nations, in his first major race on a MX1 class bike, he got 2nd in the 2nd moto, stuck in 3rd gear, on the 350, behind Paulin, and in front of RV.
He got 9th in the 3rd moto,
Not bad for a youngster who people seem to think is just a sand rider.
If he goes to the US next year, I wonder if KTM USA would retain 3 young Euros in the team? Either KR or MM, could certainly go up to the 450s. Perhaps that would be the logical progression, with a 250f rider going to a 350, with RD on the 450.
A years long time in MX.