XMotionMag Issue 3 June/July 2017 ISSUE3_JUNE-JULY17 | Page 63

ISSUE 3 - MXGPGERMANY The “Bullet”,  Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings, came out with a bang in race 1 as he passed Cairoli early and led through to the checkered flag. Herlings season is starting to come around but one thing that plagued him early this year was his starts and in race 2 a start outside the top 5 hindered him once again. Making his way forward and into second took much longer in race 2 and Herlings was unable to close the gap Cairoli had built. Herlings in the post race press conference said, “In the first race I was in second pretty quick but in the second one I was around 10th on the first turn and had to work my up to second, I burned too much energy. He (Cairoli) is the eight-time champ for a reason, he’s a great rider and I just couldn’t close the gap.” Another rider who challenged Herlings in Teutschenthal was Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Gautier Paulin. Paulin fought for position with Herlings in both races but in race 2 put in a late charge to catch the #84 but by the end it was too little too late for Paulin. Two third place finishes placed the Frenchman back on the podium before heading to his home GP next weekend. Paulin in the press conference stated, “Third and third today is consistent but  we didn’t put everything together so we need to keep working to get better.” Monster Energy Kawasaki Racing Team’s Clement Desalle  is becoming a consistent face in the top 5 of MXGP. Desalle had another good weekend of racing as he went 4-4, placing fourth overall and scoring 36 championship points. The number 25 is also 4th in the championship standings coming out of Germany and into France. Behind Desalle was the second French rider XMOTIONMAG • 63