Jeffrey Herlings on Kegums DNF: “Hard to take”

Honda HRC PETRONAS faced a challenging weekend at the MXGP of Latvia, with all three riders encountering setbacks that prevented them from scoring significant points. Jeffrey Herlings, after securing a strong third place in the opening race and pushing hard for victory in the second, was forced to retire due to a technical problem, ultimately finishing tenth overall. Similarly, in the MX2 class, Valerio Lata crashed while running fifth in race one, denying him a potential career-best points haul, despite a solid fifth-place finish in race two. Ruben Fernandez also showed promise, finishing sixth in the first race, but a collision in the second race hampered his progress, leaving him to recover to 11th place. The riders expressed their frustration but remained optimistic about their performances and future prospects. Herlings acknowledged the disappointment but highlighted his competitive pace before the technical failure, indicating a determination to bounce back. Lata reflected on his strong riding despite the crash, emphasising the positives from the weekend and his ambition to perform well at his home GP in Montevarchi. Fernandez described the collision as unfortunate but was pleased with his initial race pace and recovery efforts, aiming to maintain consistent front-running form. Team principal Marcus Pereira de Freitas acknowledged the difficulties faced during the weekend, recognising the unpredictable nature of motocross and the disappointment of seeing riders off the track. He praised the riders’ speed and competitiveness despite the poor results and pledged to work hard during the upcoming break to prevent similar issues. The team is now focused on regrouping ahead of their home round in Montevarchi, Italy, where they hope to return stronger and possibly welcome back Tom Vialle. With eight rounds completed and their first sequence of consecutive races behind them, Honda HRC PETRONAS is looking to use the upcoming weekend off as a chance to recover and refocus. The team’s performance in Latvia, while marred by misfortune, demonstrated promising speed and potential across the board. Their sights are firmly set on the Italian GP, where they aim to capitalise on home advantage and improve their championship standings.