Runners-up for Herlings and Lata in Latvian qualification

The Honda HRC PETRONAS team delivered strong performances at the MXGP of Latvia qualification races, with Jeffrey Herlings and Valerio Lata both finishing second in their respective MXGP and MX2 classes. Herlings, a nine-time winner at Kegums, led laps early on but ultimately couldn’t maintain the lead, finishing with nine points ahead of the GP-scoring motos. Despite posting the fastest times in free and timed practice, Herlings struggled to find his rhythm during the race, compounded by a few mistakes that allowed the leader to pull away. Valerio Lata showed significant progress in the MX2 category, holding the lead for much of the race before narrowly conceding victory in the closing laps. His second-place finish marked his best result of the season, bolstered by the fastest lap of the race and the quickest time in timed practice. Lata’s performance suggests he is closing the gap to the front runners, with the Honda CRF250RW proving competitive on the challenging sandy circuit. Ruben Fernández also impressed with a fifth-place finish, his best qualification result of the season, following a recent podium in Germany. Fernández managed a consistent pace throughout the race and is poised to challenge for further top positions in the main motos. Unfortunately, the team’s fourth rider, Tom Vialle, was absent from the Latvian round, but the trio of Herlings, Lata, and Fernández remain confident ahead of the GP-scoring races. Team manager Marcus Pereira de Freitas praised Lata’s development and resilience, noting his intense training despite difficult weather conditions. He acknowledged Herlings’ frustration at missing out on victory but emphasised the team’s commitment to supporting him in his pursuit of a win. Pereira de Freitas also highlighted Fernández’s adaptability across different tracks and surfaces, expressing optimism about the team’s prospects for the remainder of the weekend in what is expected to be drier and sunnier conditions.