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Yeah but your whole deal is that you despise Herlings
There was a time when US MX riders went to Europe during breaks in racing.
Man those euro boys push hard, more crashes than in the USA but i guess they are on more difficult terrain sometimes
Not the first time Herlings has complimented Coenen’s speed.
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I should have known my comment would start up the old Yank vs Euro merry go round, my apologies all.
However what I really meant was the difference in the development paths, not a dick measuring contest…..
And for those who don’t understand; this was about MX not SX, I thought being a MXGP thread might give that away, again my mistake.
I use too, he’s no longer the most arrogant man on two wheels. Injury after injury will do that to you. His rabid fans and there excuses and Lewis turning every damn MXGP podcast into a glaze fest are the worst part of him now but I still miss Loots on here. Every thread was made better with his arguing. Herlings threads are not the same without him and Herlings threads usually have the most talking points sans Deegs.
I’m not hating on him here just pointing out that Lucas is doing the right thing and watching a teenager on a KTM win on 450s is what we expected from Herlings.
Initially, I was flattered by his honesty, but afterwards my suspicious side took over: what if this is an early mental game? Mentioning how good, strong and fast Coenen is - even involving Lawrence - in the hope that he, due to his youth and lack of experience in competing for the worldtitle year after year, might start to float and become unsettled due to this? Not meant badly towards Jeffrey, it was just an idea. Imagine if it was his plan and it turns out it works, that would be the move of the decade.
I think he has just accepted that on the Honda there is no reason to risk it since it seems he has to override the bike to keep up.
Healthy and on a KTM, in think he could run with Lucas.
This should be titled “ Coenen beats a 34 year old 5 time world champion”
When Herlings was Coenens age he was lapping podium finishers. Coenen is something else but I remember when Herlings was that age. To summarize coenen is currently the fastest sand rider in the world but Herlings was the fastest ever.
Let me add some fuel to the fire:
Herlings vs Tomac
Pretty lame excuse, the Honda is as good as the KTM. Gajser "only" won 4 premier class titles with it, didn't he? From the last 12 worldtitles, 4 of them went to Honda, 4 to KTM, 2 to GasGas, 1 to Yamaha and 1 to Kawasaki. But yeah, the Honda is subordinate to the KTM🙄
The thing is: Herlings isn't as dominant as he used to be (logic, as he's one of the veterans of the class), but still dominant enough to gap the rest of the field to a minute on a sandtrack. Coenen is just better at the moment. There's no shame in that, it's just the way things go. Changing of the guard, like they say.
Ktm makes a better bike for sand. Honda might be the worst bike for sand. I think this was discussed in one of the mxgp podcasts and it came from a pro rider not just the media.
The rider won the GP last weekend, not the bike. If you swapped the riders and manufacturers, the outcome would've been the same.
And what rider was it in which podcast? A US rider or a GP rider? Big difference. And was it a rider in the twilight of his career, switching brands and not winning anymore? In that case, the finger is quickly pointed at the bike instead of reflecting and admitting you just can't deliver anymore.
But yeah, Honda's are the absolute dogs of bikes in the sand. Beta's and TM's are rocketships compared to them.
Herlings looks better on the Honda than he did on the KTM over the past years. People don't watch the racing if they say anything else. While he still had very dominant rides on the KTM, he looks solid everywhere now. Even getting good starts, which he was missing on the KTM. Gajser in my opinion is crazy to abandon the ride, Yamaha must have offered A LOT more than Honda.
Herlings might have been through a lot of injuries and isn't 22 anymore, but that guy still absolutely rips and looks more motivated than he did in the last 4 years.
Also people talking down on Lucas results should be ashamed. That guy is frikking 19 years old. He would have been the youngest ever MXGP champ last year at the age of 18 if the didn't came into the season injured. His peek is still coming. Do you guys know how insane that is? Comments like "He can only beat a washed up Herlings" are even more disrespectful to the rest of the field. He is on par or even faster (definitely faster in the sand) than Prado in 2024.
Herlings already Said Honda better on the hardpack. Ktm better on the Sand.
I just can't understand why fans necessarily want to blame the Honda because Herlings gets beaten twice in the sand. Is it out of denial because it's an unusual thing to see for the past 17 years? Herlings himself admits he got beaten fair and square. What's more to argue about?
If Coenen & Herlings had swapped bikes after the 1st moto and did minor suspension set up, do you think Coenen would’ve still gapped Herlings to the tune of 12 seconds, that is what you’re saying right?
Let me answer with another question: In Arnhem they were both fit and both on factory KTM's. Who was the fastest/better rider that weekend?
Without those start crashes, Coenen would've won that one aswell. Something Herlings himself admits aswell.
Pit Row
“ In Arnhem they were both fit”
Please keep your facts straight.
Herlings came from a collorbone injury.
He returned at Lommel almost a month prior to Arnhem and went 1-1-1 on the weekend. So yeah, I dare to say he was fit.
Herlings went 8-8 in Lommel but okay.
Yeah and this season is the first time since 2021 that he came in absolutely fit and healthy. He is in better shape now than he was over the past years. So what?
Maybe fit but had to adapt to a new bike & team.
I posted a while back asking if Lucas may be the next Jett. He sure looks like it. His riding style is excellent, and his speed is incredible.
When he comes to the USA, I sure hope his debut will be in the Nationals and not SX. Learn from Prado's mistake.
Isn't Herlings still just 31?
Funny how it's always the GP guys expected to travel to the US to "prove themselves" in a one-off race. When was the last time a top US rider turned up as a wildcard at a non-US GP.?
Yes, and come Arnhem he was fit again and went 1-1-1, because that's the GP I was talking about.
But okay.
Can't believe people bring up the age thing at all anymore after what we have seen from guys like Cairoli, Febvre, Herlings, Tomac, Kenny etc all being over 30 and still absolutely ripping. Funny how they can dominate one weekend and when they don't win the next weekend all of the sudden it's the age, couldn't be something else lol.
We have significantly fewer weekends off
We also do this thing where we think age isn't a factor and guys just stay peak speed.
Post a reply to: Coenen 2 Sec Faster than Herlings… In the SAND!