All-Time Top Ten

When Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider Jeffrey Herlings captured his fifth FIM Motocross World Championship title and his 99^th Grand Prix victory, the Dutchman joined a very elite group of legends from the past. Three MX2 titles and two in the premier class saw Herlings move from eight in the all-time list to number four and you could even place him at number three just behind Stefan Everts and Antonio Cairoli.

Of course, the two leaders in the group, Everts and Cairoli have 10 and 9 world titles each and 101 and 94 GP wins. Amazing to think that their statistics are so close and that their careers followed each other so closely. When Everts retired in 2006, the sport needed a leader and Cairoli took that role with both hands and would of course eventually nearly pass the King on the all-time list.

Belgian legend Joel Robert, who passed away this year was THE MAN for 30 years with his six world titles and 50 GP wins and one of the highlights of Everts career was watching him break the long-standing records of Robert, who had won his GP and titles in the 1960s and 1970s.

While Roberts numbers came from the 250 class, which was not the premier class in his era, his statistics have always been respected and his place in our sport always been right at the very top.

Now, some 50 years after Robert was the king of the 250 class, “The Bullet” closes in on the Belgians world title number and has doubled his GP win tally. For that reason, it is hard to really know which rider belongs at number three on the all-time list, but for me, it is Herlings.

What is also exciting about the all-time list is the fact Team HRC factory rider Tim Gajser is also climbing the ladder. His four world titles and 33 GP wins place him at number nine in the list, but another title and a handful of GP wins, and he too would pass four of the all-time greats in Roger De Coster, Eric Geboers, Georges Jobe and Joel Smets. Do I think he can do it? I am nearly positive he will.

Imagine, three riders from the class of 2021 would end up second, third and fourth in the all-time list. We already knew this year’s legends will be remembered forever, but to have three inside the top five is something very special.

All-time Top Ten (Going by Statistics)

1.Stefan Everts 10 World titles 101 GP wins

2.Antonio Cairoli 9 World titles 94 GP wins

3.Joel Robert 6 World titles 50 GP wins

4.Jeffrey Herlings 5 World titles 99 GP wins

5.Joel Smets 5 World titles 57 GP wins

6.Eric Geboers 5 World titles 39 GP wins

7.Roger De Coster 5 World titles 36 GP wins

8.Georges Jobe 5 World titles 28 GP wins

9.Torsten Hallman 4 titles 37 GP wins

10.Tim Gajser 4 titles 33 GP wins

Photo Copyright: Ray Archer