MUST READ : Todd Waters about Jeffrey Herlings

4/28/2020 8:56am Edited Date/Time 5/4/2020 4:51pm
"In 2018, I was training at Lommel. Jeffrey Herlings was there, and it looked like he was on another planet.

Holes were so big they were as high as my hip when I was standing in them and he was standing on the bike, full commited... there was a corner with 2 big bumps separated by about 20 meters. He was jumping them. I saw a lot of fast riders in my life, but man that was completly mind blowing.

From that moment, I said I'm gonna jump this stuff. I worked the whole day on this corner. I emptied two tanks to try to jump it, but never I was able to put even my front wheel behind the second bump. The thing, his speed was different from the other riders.

Then, I was in Holland a little bit later, hard pack track, basic jumps, nothing difficult really. I think Paulin was there, or one of the top GP riders, Seewer maybe, anyway, I was 1.5 seconds slower than him.

I was feeling good, I was happy. I asked the mecanic "Hey, what are Herlings's lap times here ?"
"He is 10 seconds faster."
I said "yeah, but the track was perfect at that moment ?"
"No, no, he is 10 seconds faster.".

I would not believe it. It's not the type of track you can take 10 seconds. It was flat, tables, good prep, nice ruts, lap times about 1min50.

At the time, I was around 10-12 in MXGP. Usually, in gp's, if you are 3 seconds a lap slower than the leader, you are in the top 5.

Last year, I was in the USA for a couple rounds, and I was around 15th in qualification not far from Cooper Webb, and that day we were about 2 or 3 seconds slower than the top 3 and their fastest laps.

"10 seconds ?" I was eating my lunch, and I was thinking about it the whole time. "10 seconds ? I would like to see that.".

Jeffrey Herlings arrived at the end of the day. Boom, he was 10 seconds faster than me. This man is incredible. We didn't changed, we are not slower, it is just that now there is this type of dudes..."
6
|
USA
Posts
1973
Joined
9/4/2016
Location
Richmond, TX US
Fantasy
545th
4/28/2020 9:00am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 9:00am
I think I'm gonna nickname him 'the bullet', hes so fast
3
mingham97
Posts
854
Joined
7/16/2013
Location
AU
4/28/2020 9:14am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 9:14am
What’s the article? Just to give the magazine some credit
2
ATKpilot99
Posts
9755
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI US
4/28/2020 9:14am
He's lucky Coldenhoff wasn't there, he would have been at least 15 seconds off.
8
15

The Shop

mx_563
Posts
2059
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
CA US
4/28/2020 9:45am
I thought Todd Waters was a native English speaker but based on some of this grammar, I guess not...

....We didn't changed, we are not slower, it is just that now there is this type of dudes...
21
Cortami79
Posts
1460
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
NL
4/28/2020 10:19am
The thing is in Vital that some of you guys seem to laugh about it. But really, not just because he is dutch, but you will be amazed too when you see him riding in real time. By that I mean during practice days, because that's where I have seen him doing the most incredible things, even more incredible then some of his GP race dominances. All the way from the time he was on a RM85 in 2008 until now, I'm happy to have witnessed him doing stuff that would blow anyones mind.

I have a small story from 2018. It was the Wednesday before his MXGP title crown in Assen. He just came back from that collarbone injury of course and won those 2 races in Indonesia. All the hype was getting real because he was dominating again, and getting closer to the first MXGP title for a dutch guy in years. Therefore Smets contacted us at Axel to let him train that day and to keep him separated from other Amateur riders. So the day was divided in 45 min sessions for Amateurs and 45 min sessions for the pro's (him, Bogers and Mike Kras). Obviously this was way safer then getting Pro's/Amateurs mixed and having those insane speed differences. The speed he showed that day was insane. Bogers was just getting back from that heel injury. Herlings put on 1.43's all day, compared to bogers with 1.48's. Track was absolutely brutal. Then, in his final session he was doing some sprint starts with 5 lap heaters. I was a little blown away because his mechanics were still pushing him even though he had a title to win 4 days later. He eventually dropped his laptimes down to 1.39. Just crazy what that guy can do on a dirtbike

There are some really special talents in the sport right now, like in every era obviously. The pure raw speed Tomac has had during some of his supercross victories (and some of his outdoor performances as well!) are also a great thing to see. Same with guys like Carmichael, Stewart etc etc. But i really get the thing what Waters say, and heard some incredible other stories during the last 10 years of his GP career

Cortami79
Posts
1460
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
NL
4/28/2020 10:33am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 10:34am


I've found this video on my phone from that day
crowe176
Posts
6614
Joined
9/8/2006
Location
Spring Lake, MI US
4/28/2020 10:39am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 10:40am
Herlings just has better suspension and ECU.
6
Motofinne
Posts
10670
Joined
1/4/2014
Location
FI
4/28/2020 10:44am
Cortami79 wrote:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYhsZwB149Y[/embed] I've found this video on my phone from that day


I've found this video on my phone from that day
Fucking hell
Boomslang
Posts
6854
Joined
12/22/2018
Location
Cape Town ZA
Fantasy
657th
4/28/2020 10:48am Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 10:49am
Every decade produces exceptional talent as described above. In 99 I wrenched on Bubba's FMF superminis. I had a box van and would meet the Stewart family at various events.

One race still stands out - Muddy Creek was the day I realised that this kid was from another planet. I'd like to find the result sheets/timing from that event as I believe he would have flat out beaten everyone on the day.

Now that his career is over I guess it's safe to say that he was too fast for his own good.

MC had SX figured like Everts had the GPs figured but Carmichael will always be the Goat.

We are in a new era now but Herlings boggles my mind and I can relate to what Todd Waters is saying in the OP's post.
Robgvx
Posts
3681
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
GB
4/28/2020 11:07am
Cortami79 wrote:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYhsZwB149Y[/embed] I've found this video on my phone from that day


I've found this video on my phone from that day
Motofinne wrote:
Fucking hell
Fucking FUCKING hell....!!
7
2
FlaNard
Posts
3614
Joined
10/13/2009
Location
Layton, UT US
4/28/2020 12:53pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 12:56pm
The fastest man on the planet. Every now and then someone comes along who is just better than the field (the world) and it's cool and weird and shocking and amazing all at once.
9
1
shuggs
Posts
1568
Joined
8/6/2008
Location
Dunfermline GB
4/28/2020 12:59pm
Would like to watch the interview but gypsy tales voice sounds like grating chalk🤬
2
Forty
Posts
2783
Joined
7/27/2009
Location
Saint Paul, MN US
4/28/2020 1:30pm
Tough to find 10 seconds. Real tough.
1
RonJon
Posts
386
Joined
9/13/2016
Location
Torquay AU
4/28/2020 1:38pm
shuggs wrote:
Would like to watch the interview but gypsy tales voice sounds like grating chalk🤬
POM
1
2
nytsmaC
Posts
5959
Joined
8/10/2009
Location
Frig Off CA
4/28/2020 1:43pm
Cortami79 wrote:
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYhsZwB149Y[/embed] I've found this video on my phone from that day


I've found this video on my phone from that day
Awesome, he’s ringing out that factory 450 on a beat to hell sand track like it’s a 125 on a prepped circuit.
4
Johnny Ringo
Posts
5426
Joined
1/11/2016
Location
Tombstone, AZ US
4/28/2020 1:50pm
If he’s so good why does he have such a high number? 84 doesn’t seem very good
3
Rawly
Posts
518
Joined
9/12/2019
Location
Simi Valley, CA US
4/28/2020 2:46pm
Definitely hitting his marks.
3
pete303
Posts
8
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
US
4/28/2020 3:33pm
But could he win the C class at LL?
8
1
mofomotojoe
Posts
284
Joined
11/22/2019
Location
Lodi, CA US
4/28/2020 4:08pm
shuggs wrote:
Would like to watch the interview but gypsy tales voice sounds like grating chalk🤬
It would be cool if there was a website that would grab the link of a video and replace the voice of someone with someone else's. Automatically.
I listen to many moto podcasts. Sadly, I just cannot bear this voice. It's so out of place with our sport. I can't relate. Almost like an over-dramatized, made-for-tv special raspy filter. Just. Can't. take. it. Sorry.
I listen to American, English, French, Dutch and Australian content. Blue-collars, lumberjacks, farmers, Snotty elites, geniuses, delicate artists, fragile little flowers, Hillbillies and Rednecks... Never been an issue.
But Raspy Chalky no worky for me.
It's sad and I know I am missing on stuff here.
I have myself an accent. This is why I carefully chose someone else in my team to speak for important presentations. Impressions are important. Can't have the voice deter from the message. I feel the message is more important than your personality or "uniqueness".

Fundme campaign to have Producer Joe from Main Main show to dub it? Smile
2
7
4/28/2020 4:19pm
mx_563 wrote:
I thought Todd Waters was a native English speaker but based on some of this grammar, I guess not... [i]....We didn't changed, we are not slower...
I thought Todd Waters was a native English speaker but based on some of this grammar, I guess not...

....We didn't changed, we are not slower, it is just that now there is this type of dudes...
So that what you take away from that article?
1
TXDirt
Posts
7384
Joined
7/29/2015
Location
Plano, TX US
4/28/2020 4:24pm
He’s without a doubt the fastest man on the planet. I don’t think that can be disputed.
6
Excaliburbmx
Posts
1872
Joined
6/21/2014
Location
Indianapolis, IN US
4/28/2020 4:41pm
It's a good thing Tomac wasn't there that day to smoke herlings.
Yeah Tomac has never beat him right?
4
teamddr
Posts
499
Joined
1/29/2019
Location
IE
4/28/2020 5:00pm
Forty wrote:
Tough to find 10 seconds. Real tough.
Yeah it would be tough for me to get within ten seconds of Waters
As for Herlings I’ve seen what everyone is talking about real time as well, the guy is not of this planet.
My favourite rider ever -Stew
The best rider ever - RC
The fastest ever- the Bullet, anyone who thinks otherwise is deluded
3
13
JohnnyD13
Posts
711
Joined
3/23/2014
Location
Loganville, GA US
4/28/2020 5:21pm
If he’s so good why does he have such a high number? 84 doesn’t seem very good
Lol
1
Crush
Posts
20957
Joined
4/26/2009
Location
Sydney AU
4/28/2020 5:22pm
Cortami79 wrote:
The thing is in Vital that some of you guys seem to laugh about it. But really, not just because he is dutch, but you will...
The thing is in Vital that some of you guys seem to laugh about it. But really, not just because he is dutch, but you will be amazed too when you see him riding in real time. By that I mean during practice days, because that's where I have seen him doing the most incredible things, even more incredible then some of his GP race dominances. All the way from the time he was on a RM85 in 2008 until now, I'm happy to have witnessed him doing stuff that would blow anyones mind.

I have a small story from 2018. It was the Wednesday before his MXGP title crown in Assen. He just came back from that collarbone injury of course and won those 2 races in Indonesia. All the hype was getting real because he was dominating again, and getting closer to the first MXGP title for a dutch guy in years. Therefore Smets contacted us at Axel to let him train that day and to keep him separated from other Amateur riders. So the day was divided in 45 min sessions for Amateurs and 45 min sessions for the pro's (him, Bogers and Mike Kras). Obviously this was way safer then getting Pro's/Amateurs mixed and having those insane speed differences. The speed he showed that day was insane. Bogers was just getting back from that heel injury. Herlings put on 1.43's all day, compared to bogers with 1.48's. Track was absolutely brutal. Then, in his final session he was doing some sprint starts with 5 lap heaters. I was a little blown away because his mechanics were still pushing him even though he had a title to win 4 days later. He eventually dropped his laptimes down to 1.39. Just crazy what that guy can do on a dirtbike

There are some really special talents in the sport right now, like in every era obviously. The pure raw speed Tomac has had during some of his supercross victories (and some of his outdoor performances as well!) are also a great thing to see. Same with guys like Carmichael, Stewart etc etc. But i really get the thing what Waters say, and heard some incredible other stories during the last 10 years of his GP career

He's a beast no doubt – but I think a lot of people who don't seem to care or acknowledge it probably stems from the fact that Kenny had him covered all that time they rode together, and they've seen Kenny at his peak...
6
1
4/28/2020 5:45pm
Barely anyone ever comments on his bike and how composed and stable it is. Theres some voodoo magic going on inside those forks/shocks.
1
500guy
Posts
12478
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
AZ US
4/28/2020 5:50pm Edited Date/Time 4/28/2020 5:50pm
Just for reference

Waters finished qualifying at Hangtown almost 9 seconds behind Roczen

Moto 1 he was almost 8 seconds a lap slower than Roczen

Moto 2 He was lapped by Tomac plus 29 seconds.

Holy shit Eli and Ken must be fast too eh?
8

Post a reply to: MUST READ : Todd Waters about Jeffrey Herlings

The Latest