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kaidoddragon
4/28/2020 8:56am
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..."
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..."
The Shop
....We didn't changed, we are not slower, it is just that now there is this type of dudes...
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
I've found this video on my phone from that day
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.
Pit Row
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?
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
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?
Post a reply to: MUST READ : Todd Waters about Jeffrey Herlings