Jeffrey Herlings: An appreciation of a memorable MXGP alliance
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing wishes to thank and extend best wishes to five-times FIM World Champion Jeffrey Herlings as the 16-year association between the team and the Dutchman reaches a close.
Herlings was drafted into the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team as a precarious 15-year-old in 2010. His talent and desire were immediately evident as he grabbed his first MX2 Grand Prix podium in only his second outing in Italy and then won for the first time in The Netherlands two weeks later. It was the beginnings of a formidable partnership, not only with team staff that mostly remained by his side for the rest of his KTM career but also the KTM 250 SX-F.
Herlings would claim 61 of his current record total of 112 Grand Prix wins (all of which earned with Red Bull KTM SX-F technology) with the quarter-litre bike and thanks to titles in 2012, 2013 and 2016 is the most decorated KTM racer in the history of the category. The Dutchman would move to the premier MXGP class in 2017 and although his career would be interrupted by injury he scooped two more championships, in 2018 and 2021, and won at least one GP with the KTM 450 SX-F every season he was active.
As well as his MXGP acclaim, Jeffrey owned races in the AMA Pro National Motocross series and domestic motocross titles in his homeland and the UK. He has also been repeatedly victorious at the FIM Motocross of Nations. Herlings is KTM’s second-most decorated FIM Motocross world champion and rightfully holds a special place in the firm’s prolific racing history.
Pit Beirer, KTM Motorsports Director: “It was a big pleasure to watch a generational talent like this boy grow and develop with us. Jeffrey always did things his own way but we’ve hardly ever seen a racer work as hard and be so determined. There were highs and lows in this long 16-year journey for both of us, but Jeffrey is unique, and I’m happy that our Red Bull KTM orange was such a strong part in his story.”
Robert Jonas, KTM Director Offroad Racing: “Thanks to Jeffrey for all the wins, the titles and years and years of dedication. Jeffrey only ever had one goal and to make that target every time after setbacks says a lot for his character and also for the connection he had with the team."
"We’ve had an incredible run together and we’ll always have a special history.”
A weather-affected opening race of the 2026 SMX World Championship Playoffs at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus saw Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado earn a hard-fought third position on the overall podium, with that result elevating him into the 450SMX points lead. Following a pair of dry on-track sessions during Friday practice, heavy rain in the region interrupted proceedings early on this morning, as the track crew worked tirelessly to prepare the circuit for the afternoon’s race schedule at SMX Playoff 1. When the gates dropped for 450SMX Moto 1, Prado powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to the holeshot, holding the lead through the opening moments of the race. The Spaniard prioritized consistency in the mud, successfully navigating the conditions to secure a third-place result. The four-time world champion executed another strong start in Moto 2, battling for the final podium position during the race, and eventually crossed the line in P4. That saw him claim third overall for the round, taking charge of the 450SMX red plate entering Los Angeles next weekend. Jorge Prado: "I mean, I really don’t know what to say! Like I said after Moto 1, my worst races came in the mud this year, and now I finish up here on the box, which is amazing for me. It’s a big improvement, so I am super-happy, and proud of my progress, and the work from the whole team – if you look back a year ago to where I am now, it’s a huge difference. Now we are leading the SMX series and I can’t be more happy than this." Also up front off the start of Moto 1, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger crashed soon afterward, but displayed strong pace aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION as he fought his way through the field to 10th place. Sixth in Moto 2 marked a convincing outing for ‘The Cowboy’ in his home state of Ohio, taking seventh overall and climbing to eighth in the 450SMX standings. Aaron Plessinger: "I feel like Columbus was a pretty big missed opportunity for me, since we had lots of rain and lots of mud, which is usually my cup of tea. We got off to a really good start in Moto 1, but then Jorge [Prado] slid and kind of jumped into my wheel, but no blame on him – it was a racing incident. I ended up going down, and then it was a struggle from that point on, getting up to ninth and then going down again. Moto 2, I got off to a horrible start and went to the inside of turn one, which worked out, and then ended up battling Joey [Savatgy] for fifth pretty much the whole time. I just feel like I should've been better all around – there were a lot of moments that I should've capitalized on. We'll focus on Los Angeles now and look for a stronger round." The retiring Eli Tomac raced to 15-13 results in 450SMX across the shortened double-race format aboard his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION in SMX Playoff 1, with his sights now shifting toward next weekend’s second round of the post-season, where double points will be on offer. He's currently ninth in the championship, with only two race weekends remaining in his decorated career. Eli Tomac: "It was a long day in Columbus. The conditions were tough, and I had a hard time getting going today when it counted, but the positive is that we were able to salvage some points, and it was an enjoyable weekend outside of the weather today. I'm looking forward to LA next week and fighting back toward the front in these next two races coming up." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 250SMX contender Julien Beaumer crashed out of a top-five position on the opening lap of Moto 1, before mounting a comeback ride in challenging conditions to finish 16th on his KTM 250 SX-F FACTORY EDITION. Another difficult outing in race two saw Beaumer finish 18th, placing him 10th in the standings heading into Playoff 2. Julien Beaumer: “It was a terrible day for me in the mud. We got a lot of rain – I felt great yesterday in the dry – but today was rough. It is what it is, we have double and triple points at the next two, so I need to execute across the next two rounds in what are hopefully some better conditions, and give myself a chance.” Next Race: September 19 – Los Angeles, California Results 450SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1 1. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 2. Ken Roczen (Suzuki) 3. Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 7. Aaron Plessinger (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 11. Malcolm Stewart (Husqvarna) 14. Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) 16. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) Standings 450SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1 1. Jorge Prado, 42 points 2. Haiden Deegan, 40 3. Cooper Webb, 38 8. Aaron Plessinger, 22 9. Eli Tomac, 22 12. RJ Hampshire, 19 14. Malcolm Stewart, 16 Results 250SMX Class – SMX Playoff 1 1. Levi Kitchen (Kawasaki) 2. Daxton Bennick (Husqvarna) 3. Ryder DiFrancesco (Husqvarna) 18. Julien Beaumer (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) Standings 250SMX Class 2026 after Playoff 1 1. Levi Kitchen, 47 points 2. Ryder DiFrancesco, 42 3. Cole Davies, 37 4. Daxton Bennick, 34 10. Julien Beaumer, 21
Red Bull KTM inched closer to the finale of the 2026 FIM Motocross World Championship with a decent catch of results at the Grand Prix of China and the penultimate round of the series. Simon Längenfelder achieved 4th with the KTM 250 SX-F at the modern and impressive International off-road circuit in Shanghai.
The FIM Motocross World Championship rounded the flat, jumpy hard-pack of the Afyon Motor Sports Center for the Grand Prix of Turkey and Red Bull KTM emerged from round 17 of 19 with a decent 2nd place by Simon Laengenfelder in MX2.
