Event organisers for the Be Wiser Hawkstone International, HIMX, confirmed last night that former World MX2 champion Jeffrey Herlings will race the famous season opener on February 7.
Red Bull KTM MX2 squad will be there in force with three riders from the team set to compete. Pauls Jonass and Davy Pootjes will join Herlings at the sand track in Shropshire.
Herlings loves riding at the Hawkstone Park circuit and only missed the International in 2015 due to injury but was happy to make an appearance at the British championship held there in June this year.
Despite Max Anstie doing his best to give chase, Herlings totally dominated that event and was a huge hit with the crowd.
Max Anstie chasing “The Bullet”
The Bullet had a tough 2015, troubled by one injury after another, he missed the last seven rounds, leaving him down in seventh place at the end of the year. Meanwhile his team-mate Pauls Jonass had a stunning year, finishing runner up in the championship and is looking forward to kick-starting his 2016 season at Hawkstone.
“This will be my first time at Hawkstone Park, I have heard many good things about the track and I am looking forward and excited about racing there,” said Jonass. “2015 was a good year for me and I hope to try and improve on this next season.”
Herlings and Jonass will be joined at Hawkstone by Davy Pootjes who makes the move up to MX2 for 2016. Pootjes raced the Hawkstone round of the British championship alongside Herlings and even though Pootjes DNFed the first moto the young Dutch pilot finished eighth overall.
“I am looking forward to racing at Hawkstone Park, it will be good preparation for me for the GP Season,” said Pootjes. “Hawkstone is a track which I really like and I hope I can do well in front of all the fans.
“I rode the British championship there this year and I am happy to come back in February. The MX2 class will be interesting to watch with a lot of fast and talented riders in it. I am working hard at the moment to be ready for the race and I hope to see you all there on Feb 7.”
Gary Ford from HIMX commented: “We are delighted to have the Red Bull KTM Team at the Be Wiser Hawkstone International. All three riders are great and the rider lineup for the event is beginning to look very impressive. We are looking forward to announcing more GP riders in the forthcoming weeks.”
MX1, MX2 and MXY2 entries are now open by contacting Gary Ford ford542@btinternet.com
