Herlings Out For MXGP of Czech Republic; Cairoli Back to 350 SX-F
Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings will miss Round 13 (of 18) of the FIM World Motocross Championship at the MXGP of Czech Republic this weekend as he continues to recover from a broken collarbone sustained at the Dutch Masters in Halle on July 10, the team confirmed via their Twitter account. Herlings underwent surgery immediately after the injury, but isn’t 100 percent fit for this weekend.
This is the third consecutive season that a mid-season injury has sidelined the two-time MX2 champion. In 2015, Herlings suffered a broken collarbone at the MXGP of Germany in late June. A bad finger injury at the MXGP of Sweden and then a dislocated hip at the MXGP of Czech Republic ruled him out of the championship.
Herlings has been unstoppable in the MX2 Class this year. Through 12 (of 18) rounds of the series, the Red Bull KTM rider holds an incredible 169-point lead over Jeremy Seewer, with 50 maximum points available per round. Herlings has won 23 of 24 motos this year, and every overall.
His status for the Grand Prix of Belgium next weekend is uncertain.
KTM also confirmed that eight-time world champion Tony Cairoli is reverting back to the 350 SX-F with which he won four MXGP titles from 2010-14. Reporting for MotoOnline.com.au, Adam Wheeler said that Cairoli has been testing the 2017 version in Belgium this past week.
Cairoli switched to the 450 SX-F after just five races in the 2015 season. Since that time, he’s only won four GPs and lost out on the 2015 MXGP championship. He’s currently 92 points back of Tim Gajser this season.
