Finally, after so long, will we have both 5-time World Champions in the same Grand Prix this weekend in the MXGP of Finland on the new track of Vantaa after Herlings and KTM made a surprise comeback announcement.
Gajser and Herlings have raced against each other multiple times in their careers, but not so many as we usually think. Their direct head-to-head competition has been limited due to injuries from both sides. The last time they share a starting gate was in the epic season finale in 2021, in Maggiora. That was exactly 626 days ago.
After that, injuries from both sides keep them away during the entire 2022 season after Herlings had a bizarre injury during the KTM photo shooting before the opening round in Matterley Basin. This year, it was the turn of Tim Gajser to miss the first half of the season due to a broken femur during a pre-season race in Italy. But when Gajser returned for the MXGP of Loket, Herlings would suffer a neck injury two weeks ago in Teutschenthal.
Herlings debuted in 2010 while Gajser entered his first GP at the end of the 2012 season. So far, Gajser has raced 175 Grand Prix, three more than Herlings. However, they face each other a total of 79 times but it is like they were on two different paths every time they match in a Grand Prix.
Herlings and Gajser has been on the same podium just on 26 occasions. The first time was in the GP of Matterley Basin in 2014 with Herlings sweeping both motos and Gajser earning his first-ever podium with a 3rd overall. That same season they met again on the podiums of Germany, Sweden and Finland, all wins by Herlings while Gajser finished 2nd, 3rd and 2nd respectively.
In 2015, Herlings swept the first two rounds in Qatar and Thailand, but the streak only lasted until round three in Argentina as a crash in the second moto resulted in a DNF. On those rounds, Gajser finished 4th, 11th and 5th. Back in Europe for round four at the MXGP of Trentino Gajser and Herlings met each other in the box, just this time was a special one as Tim Gajser took his maiden MX2 victory beating Jeffrey Herlings in the second moto for the overall, being the first time Gajser stood over Herlings on a podium. Then Herlings bounces back with a win a keep some momentum while Gajser struggled in the next three rounds even missing Great Britain due to a concussion. By round eight, Gajser joins Herlings on the podium with a 2nd overall but a round later, in Italy, the Slovenian took the victory over Herlings for the last time in MX2 as a couple of rounds later Herlings suffered a season-end injury during the qualifyings of the Czech Republic GP. Gajser, however, ended up winning the title for the first time in his career.
In 2016 Gajser moved up to the MXGP class becoming one of the few rookies to clinch the title on his first attempt. Meanwhile, Herlings decided to stay one more year in the MX2 class to finally clinch his third and final crown in the class before moving into the maiden class.
In 2017 both riders face each other once again, this time in the MXGP class. Gajser went 2nd overall in the season opener in Qatar, meanwhile, Herlings finished 15th as he was battling with a wrist injury. It took five rounds for Herlings to earn his first MXGP overall victory. Ironically, that day Gajser suffered a big crash during the second moto that ruled him out for the day. Throughout the entire season, they only matched on the podium in one opportunity, in Villars sous Ecot (France) where Herlings came to the win as Gajser was second.
Herlings was almost unstoppable in 2018 on his way to his first MXGP title. He won 17 overalls (15 by winning both motos). Gajser joined on the podium eight times, finishing 2nd on five occasions and 3rd three times at the same time he was struggling with some injuries. However, in 2019 they switched roles as Gajser win the championship while Herlings only appeared in five races due to a broken ankle.
The 2020 season promised to be quite a battle between Herlings and Gajser as both started the season in form. Herlings won the first two races over Gajser who finished second on both of those rounds. However, Herlings got injured by round seventh.
2021 was the first year where Gajser managed to finish ahead of Herlings on a podium in the MXGP class. He accomplished it on four occasions out of the ten times in which both finished inside the podium.
