Jeffrey Herlings Signs Extension With Red Bull KTM

INSTAGRAM | @jeffrey_herlings84

Here’s some big news as we wait for the start of the 2020 Monster Energy FIM Motocross World Championship. Jeffrey Herlings, a three-time champion in the MX2 and MXGP divisions, has signed a three-year contract extension with Red Bull KTM, a deal that will keep him on orange through 2023 (there was one year remaining on his current term). This is a massive deal for both rider and brand, as Herlings first joined the factory squad in 2010 at 15 years old and almost instantly became a front-runner in the series, making KTM the only brand he’s ever ridden for professionally. 

“I have been with KTM since 2009 so by the end of this next contract it will be fifteen years together. I’m excited to stay in the orange family and I have been working with Pit [Beirer] and the entire crew since the beginning and I was fourteen,” shared Herlings in the press release announcement. “KTM is where my heart is, and they are my family. I’m thankful that they trust in me, and I believe in them, the bike and all the people I work with. I’ll be racing with them until I’m 28 and I’m super-happy, hopefully there many more happy days ahead.” 

KTM has made waves in the MXGP motocross scene over the last few years, as most of the MXGP and MX2 titles have been awarded to the Austrian brand, and their long-term commitments to rider mean they want to continue with a proven roster. In the last three years the company has inked extensions to keep Antonio Cairoli, Jorge Prado, Tom Vialle, and now Herlings on their equipment in the global series. 

For Pit Beirer, the Motorsports Director over all of KTM, this deal is personal and important. Beirer and KTM have stuck by Herlings during all of the serious injuries that prevented him from amassing titles and race wins that would make his already hall of fame career even more prestigious, and they’ll have three more years to go for more records. “This contract definitely means a lot to me personally because it was back in 2009 that we gave this young kid and his family our word that we’d take good care of him and he had a great future in front of him: we wanted to be a partner in that. We went through so many ups and downs with Jeffrey and he has collected all of his wins and titles with us – just one brand,” Beirer is quoted in the press release. “It was actually quite emotional to know he could spend his career with just one company. I’m really happy that we could agree everything so early for another three years and I wish him a healthy and strong season and hopefully an even longer association with us when he’s stopped racing.”

Herlings, Cairoli, and Prado will all three be on the starting line this weekend for the 2020 MXGP of Great Britain, the opening round of the 2020 Monster Energy FIM Motocross World Championship. All three riders suffered serious injuries in the last 12 months, with Herlings (ankle) and Cairoli (shoulder) both missing out on a possible MXGP title in 2019, while a broken femur in the latter part of 2019 nearly put Prado out for the start of 2020.

The twenty-five-year-old Dutchman inked his deal on the eve of the British Grand Prix this weekend and the opening round of twenty in the 2020 MXGP series; his fourth in the premier class and eleventh in the FIM World Championship all with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.

The association began in 2009 when Herlings was signed to make his MX2 GP debut for the 2010 season as a fifteen-year-old. He claimed his first top-three race finish in just his second moto at the Grand Prix of Bulgaria at Sevlievo, celebrated his first podium at Mantova in Italy for round two and then started an incredible seven-year unbeaten streak of wins a few weeks later at his home event at Valkenswaard; scene of his very first 1-1 clean sweep.

Since that initial term in 2010 Herlings has gone on to accumulate 86 Grand Prix victories in two classes and ace titles in 2012, 2013, 2016 (all MX2) and then 2018 (MXGP) with KTM 250 SX-F and KTM 450 SX-F machinery. In that time there have been some astonishing performances – such as the first moto chequered flag in Latvia last summer, taken with a broken foot – and also some tough moments when he conceded likely titles in 2014 and 2015 due to injury. His peerless 2018 MXGP campaign saw #84 own 17 from 19 Grands Prix and classify as runner-up in the other two outings.

Herlings is already the most successful Dutch rider in the history of the sport and is third on the list for all-time Grand Prix triumphs. In 2019 he added the Motocross of Nations Chamberlain trophy to his heaving collection of silverware.

Jeffrey Herlings: “I’m very, very happy. I have been with KTM since 2009 so by the end of this next contract it will be fifteen years together. I’m excited to stay in the orange family and I have been working with Pit [Beirer] and the entire crew since the beginning and I was fourteen. I’m blessed to be able to do it for another three years; four including this one about to start. It is also good to have this done before the weekend and GP1 of 2020. KTM is where my heart is, and they are my family. I’m thankful that they trust in me, and I believe in them, the bike and all the people I work with. I’ll be racing with them until I’m 28 and I’m super-happy, hopefully there many more happy days ahead.”

Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “This contract definitely means a lot to me personally because it was back in 2009 that we gave this young kid and his family our word that we’d take good care of him and he had a great future in front of him: we wanted to be a partner in that. We went through so many ups and downs with Jeffrey and he has collected all of his wins and titles with us – just one brand. It was actually quite emotional to know he could spend his career with just one company. I’m really happy that we could agree everything so early for another three years and I wish him a healthy and strong season and hopefully an even longer association with us when he’s stopped racing.”

Robert Jonas, Vice President KTM Motorsports Offroad: “Jeffrey’s story with KTM is really special and I think it shows the strong bond we have with him that he wanted to commit to another three years with us. We all know his speed and his ability, and that determination to get the best of himself on the circuit can be almost unmatchable. He is a spectacular athlete to watch and to work with and we’re looking forward to a lot more races together.”