Herlings pips Searle to season-closing victory

MX2 championship runner-up Jeffrey Herlings closed the season with victory in the Italian Grand Prix, beating Britain’s Tommy Searle to the win.

Red Bull KTM man Herlings finished second to Kawasaki rider Searle in the opening moto but got his revenge by taking a commanding win in the second run to seal overall victory. Searle ran him close, also recording a win and a second place over the weekend, but ultimately had to be satisified with overall runner-up spot.

Third overall went to Max Anstie, despite the Brit not finishing on the podium in either moto. Anstie was fourth in both runs, but with Arnaud Tonus P3 in the first moto before crashing out in the second and Nicholas Aubin taking a 6-3 result it was the Kawasaki rider who completed the podium.

Meanwhile recently crowned champion Ken Roczen was conspicuous by his absence at the front of the field. Perhaps keeping his nose clean ahead of next weekend’s Motocross of Nations, Roczen rode to a steady fifth in the opening moto. He was then forced to withdraw from the second run with a bent handlebar whilst sitting fourth.

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James Weeks