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In my opinion, this is the greatest ride of all time
I think Matthes predicted 5-4 for Herlings if memory serves? I'm wondering if we'll get a repeat of sorts this weekend in the 250 class. If Sacha keeps it on two wheels I think he goes 1-1. Podium for Lucas
Matthes is an idiot about a lot of things though
Is that 9 years ago already? Seems yesterday I was trying to find coverage of it over here in the UK then having to explain to my wife why I was getting so excited over "just a race" 😄. Can't wait for this weekend.
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I too think Sasha is head and shoulders above the American 250 pilots. I've been wrong before though
As a dutch fan of the sport this was the best thing I’ve seen by a stretch. He rode so good that day
It's up there, for sure. Complete domination.
Nobody is going to tell me that prime Herlings isn't in the speed conversation with RC and James.
It’s one of the greatest but I still think O’Mara 1986 MXdN is the greatest.
The win was one thing, but the win from last place in good weather conditions just changed it all completely, that was the most thorough ass whooping ever handed out by anyone.Just an absolutely unholy smackdown.
Love to see that late 2017, 2018 version of Herlings vs a healthy Jett. Such a contrast in styles. Herlings just manhandling a 450 like its an 85. I dont know if its physically possible to go any faster than the '18 Bullet
I’d just like to add that unlike a current rider generating numerous threads for his bike “issues,” and inability to find “comfort,” JH showed up and rode a bike similar to, but hardly the same as, his regular ride and still threw down this ass kicking…
I dont get why people are acting like we have no idea how a European will do in AMA. We have a MXGP champion here.
The Herlings ride was awesome to watch... I think him not being on his regular race bike made it all that much better.
But I wish it wasn't a title mode Tomac. It just took a little edge off of the result for me.
Golden moment I remember out of the post race press conference when someone asked Herlings when he made the descision to come and race that event and Herlings was like: "2 days ago", Bagget looked like he couldn't believe what just happened
Or when Herlings said "The way they make the tracks here is absolutely amazing, so many lines, can pass people everywhere", and someone in the media responds with "Here the riders always tell us it's just one line" and Herlings responds with: "Then they should not come race the world championship" 😂😂
Title mode or not, it wouldn't have made any difference. And Tomac did try to hang with him in race 1 and binned it.
I think the best bit was the casual pulling a tear off while glancing at Tomac as he passed him in mid air in race two 😎
Unfortunately, we will never know... Yes he seemed to be going after him in the first moto, but he was still in title mode and that could have had an impact on his concentration level. Literally thinking "do I chase him or cruise?" And didn't Herlings win because Marv fell on the last lap?
I was at WW Ranch 2 weeks later and watched Tomac win the first moto easily. It's not like there was a drastic difference in their speed. And that was a time when Tomac occasionally produced what we affectionately call beast mode. No, he didn't show it either weekend...
The results are what they are and widely accepted, but if you are analyzing the situation, you know there was/is a discussion that can be had.
Tomac himself in the press conference said he absolutely went for it in moto 1 and that's the reason why he crashed, he did ride conservative in moto 2 though.
They also raced a week later at the US GP (WW ranch) and Tomac absolutely hauled in moto 1 with a holeshot, putting 30 seconds on Herlings, probably his best ride that year imo. They all got good starts in moto 2 and Tomac couldn't keep up Cairoli/Herlings.
There is a short interview with Tomac at the end of that video here (around 9:20), he definitely had high praise for Herlings and Cairoli.
Pit Row
Tomac basically did something similar in 2016 though, racing both of the US GPs. He went 1-1-1-1, while being 2-3 seconds faster a lap most of the time.
One thing is for sure, Herlings heavily elevated and impacted the level of the MXGP class in 2017/2018 and going forward. Everyone had to step up with Cairoli being the only guy that was able to go the same pace as Herlings occasionally in those years.
Why do people forget Herlings crashed on the 1st lap? No way Marv would’ve done what Herlings did, last to 1st.
All legends. Sometimes it comes down to who shows up that day in a big way.
Agreed. I think Ricky would take a championship over anyone, ever, he always found a way right.. And Jeff isn't exactly the luckiest guy on the track and never has been. But peak Herlings would have given him fits more than anyone else imo.
Nobody forgets…. It was a great ride, but there’s always context.
I think the best ever ride was RV at MXoN winning both motos by a LOT on a 250.
RC lapping the field…. Chase at Hangtown, but then many want to put an asterisk on that one because Jett was hurt. Is that different from Eli not racing for a win?
Herlings getting caught by Webb at Charlotte and then dropped, but Herlings was in title mode, right?
There is room for debate in almost every one off race. Well except for RV’s MXoN. There’s nothing to debate there. 😉
Splitting hairs.. RV's ride that day was unbelievable, but Ricky did go down in the first turn in their moto. Would have been interesting had Ricky and RV started together that's for sure. Imagine Ricky being beaten straight up by a 250.. 😬
It is splitting hairs, and almost entirely opinion based…
Fun to have so many all time greats to talk about.
No.it wasn't the same, because then tomac would have had to do it in a race in europa
Absolutely. So many What Ifs man. I still wonder to this day what would have happened had RC been fit for Matterly Basin in 06. Everts last race. Everts didn't give a fuck about the team aspect of it, said as much leading up to it, that mindset, maybe he could have even got the better of Ricky that weekend who definitely was more about bringing the trophy home (as was James). But then if you watch the last few rounds of 06 before Glen Helen, Ricky handled Stewart the same way Everts did. Culminating crashes for Stewie that year definitely took a toll on him..
Fuck the universe screwed us over lol.
100% prime JH is running with RC, Stew.
That ride was next level. Coming from last!!
I said something similar and not "same", those two have fundamentally different meanings, get off my dick pls just because I didn't agree with your Herlings take
Okay....l won't respond to your nonsense anymore.........
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