An innocuous joy ride has most likely ended the season for defending FIM MX2 World Champion Jeffrey Herlings.
After handlily winning the MXGP of Finland little more than a week ago, Jeffrey Herlings was merely five points away from clinching his third career title at the next round of the series. Now that title may be in serious jeopardy.
Herlings suffered a broken left femur in a crash while competing in an 85cc race at the Everts and Friends Charity race hosted by mult-time former World Champion Stefan Everts, in Genk, Beglium, yesterday.
Herlings underwent surgery today to have a pin inserted to stabilize the femur.
No timeframe has been given for Herlings’ recovery, but even if he cannot come back this season, he may still be able to cop the title. He has won 12 of the 13 rounds thus far in the season, and he has a 145-point lead over his Red Bull KTM teammate, Jordi Tixier, in the MX2 points standings, 594-449. In order to take the title, Tixier would have to average 36 to 37 points per round for the remaining four rounds of the series.
It could be close, as Tixier has averaged roughly 34.5 points per round, but the competition behind Herlings has been intense. Romain Febvre, Tim Gasjer and Dylan Ferrandis are all running in the top five in points and have been competitive each week. One or all of them could pose a potential blockade to Tixier’s title hopes.
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