1. Jeffrey Herlings
Red Bull KTM
Championship position: 1st, Grand Prix wins (from 18): 14, Grand Prix podiums: 15
Around the beginning of the summer in 2015 Jeffrey Herlings was as close to a professional crisis as he’d ever been. The MX2 phenomenon was unfit, unsure, unprepared and getting beaten. These were uneasy and unusual times for ‘84’ who was still in the comeback phase from the broken femur and title loss of 2014. Then a snapped collarbone, split finger and dislocated pelvis in the space of two months cast him into a mental abyss. With good reason some fans and followers were wondering if the Dutchman could ever return to his dominant pomp of 2013 and the swagger of 2012. 2016 was the emphatic answer. There were still bumps in the road – repercussions from the ’15 collarbone fracture forced a difficult but mature decision to sit out three races and a foot problem in the early part of the season led to finger-pointing of dirty-riding and sabotage at his rivals (Jeremy Seewer’s expression of surprise and disappointment at Herlings’ public statement after the Grand Prix of Germany was an absolute picture) and defeat by Dylan Ferrandis in the barn-storming chase at Arco di Trento in Italy. Aside from these moments of adversity (also expected through a long season) Herlings was magnificent. He continued his 100% run at Valkenswaard and his home Grand Prix – a streak now in place since 2009 – and with his 250SX-F was consistently the de facto target for the opposition.
As usual with an athlete that repeatedly proclaimed the gathering of statistics was a priority and preferred past time, Herlings showered his opponents (only two of which had GP winning experience) with a blast of numbers: owning the first twelve rounds of the season, contesting 15 GPs and notching 15 podiums, winning 14, becoming the third most winningest rider of all-time, claiming 12 wins as double moto shut-outs, banking 27 motos from a possible 30, 10 Pole Positions and leading 378 laps (compared to next best Dylan Ferrandis’ 76). His third and final crown in MX2 achieved with a window of 114 points; a difference of two Grands Prix. Compared to his first years in the class Herlings faced relatively little in terms of a potent threat in 2016 but still had to accumulate the chequered flags and with ghosts on both shoulders of missed opportunities while leagues ahead of his peers in 2014 and 2015. Jeffrey had to prove a point to many this year, least of all himself, and his fearless and ominous run on the 450SX-F at the Motocross of Nations to end the year means he will already be a prominent figure in MXGP honours in 2017.
For me the Grand Prix of Americas at the Charlotte Motor Speedway (round 17 of 18) was the zenith and perhaps the peak of his years in MX2. The duel with Cooper Webb – his AMA title-holding nemesis on the 250 – in the first moto was astonishing and he came within an aggressive whisper of an attack on Austin Forker in the second to gather overall spurs. Across a fast, jumpy and very ‘American’ layout the fastest sand-rider in the world was a match for the best of the United States and the first moto win must rank as one of his very finest in a long list.
2. Jeremy Seewer
Team Suzuki
Championship position: 2nd, Grand Prix wins (from 18): 0, Grand Prix podiums: 10
All evidence points towards Suzuki’s Jeremy Seewer as the firm title favourite for 2017 in what will be his last year in MX2. The Swiss has the strength, stature, intelligence and (seeming) elasticity coupled with an extraordinary feel for the limits of a 250cc motorcycle. And his results back up the rapid rate of his education at the top level for what is yet another professional athlete who up until three seasons ago was also in full-time education. European Championship vice-champion in 2013 he has spent his three Grand Prix campaigns rising from 10th to 5th and then in 2016 was a clear runner-up to Jeffrey Herlings thanks to turning a debut podium result in 2015 into a whole slew this year. Seewer showed that he could up his game further and he almost created some of the most electric scenes of the entire season when he duelled with Max Anstie for the overall win in front of a packed attendance at his home Grand Prix. A grounded character, an instinctive rider, a lively starter; the only element missing from Seewer’s arsenal is the knowledge and sensation of victory. A moto chequered flag and an overall triumph eludes his capable repertoire and provides the only blemish on his fine pedigree. This year Jeremy raised his game and status from an athlete that could be in podium contention to one that was consistently eyeing a champagne spray. He walked with a little bit more assurance in 2016 and had the fresh experience of dealing with pressure and expectation. The works Suzuki team was largely in transition thanks to Stefan Everts’ takeover and new regime but the upheaval did not seem to affect Seewer in the slightest and he kept the spirits of the Lommel-based operation buoyant while the MXGP programme stuttered. The Grand Prix of Switzerland – back on the FIM schedule for the first time since 2001 – was an undoubted highlight and Seewer responded to the prickle of the spotlight with some sizzle of his own. Similar scenes could be abound in 2017 and by replicating the form of this season where he picked up six consecutive podium appearances in the first seven rounds then Jeremy will be ideally placed to profit most and firstly in the post-Herlings era.
To see the rest of the top five in the new OTOR magazine click HERE
