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Oh man you're not gonna like it
One of the best interviews I've ever listened to. Always respected his speed, and in your interview he comes across as a really cool dude. Humble even. Great job.
Doesn't really sound like an interview, sounds more like two old mates catching up talking shit. Loved it, well done.
That's what Kiwis and Aussies would say also!
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$5m in 2018. I presume he doesn't make bank in pre-season internationals and some or the National Championship races, Lewis?
Lewis, I’ve listened to about 5 minutes of this interview. I have to say outstanding sir!
I will be listening whenever I get a chance. Great job man!
Damn it Lewis!! I just watched the 10 minute preview and now I have to figure out my two hour window to listen to the whole interview. Great stuff man!
Luckily I just retired so Ill squeeze it in somehow. Every day is Saturday to me.
Most of us “fans” make up our mind about a rider early, and it would take something big to change that opinion. If you like Jeffery, an interview like this is just going to reinforce that fandom, where if you’re like me(not a fan) it’s just going to confirm the already negative bias I have against him.
Some issues I have with what was said:
1. The 250 wins absolutely should not count as some kind of measurement of career greatness. Guys like RC, Bubba, RV, and Tony did not fuck around for 6 years in the little bike class wracking up wins. The only win record that should get talked about is whoever has the most career premier class wins, which is Tony by a long shot.
2. If he was so much better than the guys in MX1 from 12-16, then again I ask why was he fucking around in the little bike class?
3. Ken Roczen. Dude mopped the floor with Jeffrey before he left Europe. Came over here and became a champion in MX and a serious contender in SX. In what world does Jeff’s accomplishments by staying in Europe instead of following that path make him equal to a euro like Kenny who is prolific in both? Not mine. Put Marvin and Dylan in that category too.
4. If we’re gonna hype up 2018 as the greatest season a GP rider has ever done, it should be mentioned that Tim Gajser was riding hurt that year and was a shell of himself, just like people mention Jeffrey’s issues every time Tim’s titles are brought up.
He’s great no doubt. I got him below Gajser, Cairoli, Tomac, and Roczen in career motocross achievement. And even Everts had the balls to come over and at least try a few supercrosses. I consider Jeff the most overrated rider of our generation. Absolutely takes no ownership of the mistakes that cost him titles which bothers me, makes me feel like he’s saying “ that year doesn’t count because I got hurt and it wasn’t my fault”.
I’m stoked for Prado getting this title he’ll pass Herlings in career achievement soon too.
Loved it. Regardless if you like him or not, it’s always interesting to hear from one of the top dudes in sport, especially this candidly.
A couple thoughts
- his stories of overtraining trickle down from the RC/RV days. He’s a beast. You can certainly tell he was/is a fan of the riders of that era. I’m glad he’s found peace now days instead of running the burnout show. The sport is better because of that.
- His honesty with how he’s dealt with comments & social media, damn it just goes to show how nasty it can be. Even one of the winningest riders in history is bugged with social media comments. The hard edged opinions the world has lately is dampening the mood for everyone
- Half baked connection here - his injury problems..you wonder if they are/were connected to his anxiety/fear of losing. Top professional tennis players hire sports physiologists for their mental game, obviously most top pro riders cannot afford this option but I think it would be interesting
Thanks Lewis. Nice work. And good luck to the bullet for the rest of the season
Definitely not taking the spotlight away from an incredible interview, but it reminds and puts into prospective on how gnarly Webb was outdoors. He beat Jeffrey when no one was beating him. He went to MXdN and rode a 450 and killed it! You almost forget that because of his lack of success since then and his little desire to ride MX. Great interview.
Amazing interview! It’s funny. He’s exactly who I thought he was on every level and every part of his career and he admitted it. I think he’s a great guy and is definitely the James Stewart of the GPs. Which I have no problem with and prefer. “ how much can we win by?” Love it! He’s the most exciting GP rider I’ve ever known and literally the only reason I follow when he is racing. Not that I don’t respect the GPs. Just know he’s one of the best in the world and I’m a fan. Great interview. I like him more now.
this.. my exact thoughts.. Imagine if Jett was to stay down in the 250 class and just rack up wins? he would be labeled a trophy hunter or "scared to move up". doesn't matter the competition in the 250 class or not its still the stepping stone class before moving up.
What’s really surprising me, how many foreign athletes speak so fluid English a guy whose life is build around riding mx bikes has learned to speak English pretty damn good, like he doesn’t even think about finding words he just immediately has a respons back.. he can walk the walk and talk the talk 😝
Hey Lewis, is this available on a normal pod? Is there a vital pod? I'm more likely to read anywhere or listen to a pod on my phone via one of the apps.
The only win record that should get talked about is whoever has the most career premier class wins, which is Tony by a long shot.
Why should that be the only win record that gets talked about? Do we not talk about Mark Barnett's 125 wins, or James Stewart's incredible 125 career? In 2007 when Grant Langston won the 450 title, was that more valuable than the heated competition in the 250 class between Ryan Villopoto and Ben Townley? That same year, RV went on to smoke everyone at the MXdN on his 250.
Your blanket statement is without context.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2KbEKGdagMdRgVOYCRB5IH?si=UPbp9nnMT2K3…
Everything you said to denounce his career doesn't change the fact that he was one of if not the fastest MX rider to ever do it, you know just like Bubba is regarded is legendary even though he only has a few titles.
"Mopped the floor by Roczen" give me a break, he "mopped the floor" on Tomac the guy you regard better.
Clearly it's a very personal subject for you, you given him nothing but negativity.
You guys know the difference is only hp right, Jeffrey said it, those guys are fast and it’s not easy to win that title it’s just as hard as fighting in the premier class. There is no difference. You guys are saying the 250 riders can’t ride for shit..
you know in MotoGP the moto3 class reach higher corner speeds then MotoGP riders.. those moto3 riders are crazy
Pit Row
So why did Ruben and jeffrey split? Also why did all the ktm people leave like his race mechanic
The Bullet's property portfolio is incredible. Not only does he have more than 59 houses, he owns them all outright - no mortgages. A quick google search shows the average house price in the Netherlands in 2022 was 423,000 euros. At a rough estimate he owns 25 million euros worth of property.
2h seems pretty big ask only audio. Now a days you could have AI turned that to text and because english-english that would been pretty much error free.
Had no idea there was a Vital pod! Cheers!
I leave stuff like this playing on the laptop at the workshop when I'm on a quiet or personal job 👍 A lot of folks here play interviews/podcasts as audio while driving also.
As for the audio to text programs, it's mentioned a page back as not liking the errors etc. However having YT or some AI program transcribe it and then just reading through and editing is probably still much faster than doing it all from scratch.
Either way, awesome job Lewis, not a huge Herlings fan although I am a fan, but as an open, honest, informative interview that was absolutely top notch, well done man 👍
Thats wild how much investment properties hes got. also how he put all his bonus into 1st place for those few years. Would have been cool to hear him talk about what happened on that 85 and how that effected the relationship with Everts then trying to race mexico with the broken femur. Also was crazy to hear about that car crash
Loved it. Good job Lewis
Great job Lewis, breath of fresh air! About a decade ago I would interview Jeffrey often too, he was a boy then so it was easy to get him to shit talk then, not so much now. We did it in Dutch back then, but in front of a coffeeshop (not the one where you drink coffee), talking about lady boys in Thailand and we even were going to set up a poll. He was on his way to have a perfect season before he got injured. If he was to lose a race and not have a perfect season we would have the fans vote if the last race of the year in. Lierop would be races on a 125 smoker in the MX2 class or race the 450 for the first time. Neither ever happened unfortunately that year.
You'd think it's easy to edit a transcript, but it's actually longer than just writing it out yourself.
I know that sounds crazy, but every journalist will agree transcribing is the biggest pain ever.
Jeffrey gets start money, as do others, but it's nothing incredible by his standards. Nothing like Paris money.
I've said this on a few podcasts. KTM took a while to get Ruben's deal done, but Nestaan had one on the table.
Ruben took the security of that, knowing that de Wolf will be around for years whereas Jeffrey has a couple left.
That's good! I knew a ten-minute preview would make people realize that it isn't just another interview, haha.
Let me know what you think once you finish it!
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