Jeffrey Herlings after winning his sixth world title: "I hate to lose"

Jeffrey Herlings is a six-time world champion. But anyone who expected a Dutchman to mentally check into vacation mode after the decision in Afyon probably doesn't know Herlings very well.

In the press conference after the MXGP of Türkiye, the 31-year-old spoke surprisingly openly about how nervous he had been before the final race, despite his large points lead. He talked about getting just three hours of sleep, his own injury history, and why he didn't want to clinch a world championship title by finishing somewhere in 15th place.

And then there's the question that, in Herlings' case, is almost as interesting as the sixth title itself: Will he be driving with the number 1 in 2027?

His answer to that was quite clear. His heart still belongs to number 84.

Despite your large lead: How nervous were you really?

"Very. Although I had a large points lead, I was really tense in recent weeks and also during the last training sessions. I knew that only one thing could ruin this World Championship: an injury."

Throughout my career, it's become clear that I haven't always had the best luck when it comes to crashes. That's why I've tried to be smart about it. At the same time, I've continued to ride as fast as I can, because for me, the risk is lower when I'm at the front.

The whole thing was incredibly nerve-wracking. I probably only got three hours of sleep last night. All sorts of scenarios were running through my head: What if this happens? What will I do if that happens?

Of all the possibilities I had imagined, one was missing: that I would get two holeshots and lead every single lap.”

You couldn't see much of that nervousness while riding the motorcycle. Can you just block that kind of thing out now?

"I believe that's exactly what some champions can do. I don't mean to sound arrogant or conceited, that's not my style at all. But if you've already won several world championships, you can flip a switch when it really matters."

Then you simply have to deliver and not let nervousness take over.

My family, friends, and sponsors were here today. Important people from Honda were also there because of the potential World Championship decision. That put a certain amount of pressure on me. I wanted to deliver a good weekend for everyone and, of course, win.

What's particularly interesting is Herlings' own perspective on his past. He doesn't speak as if this sixth title was merely a formality given his lead. On the contrary. The closer the decision came, the more aware he seems to have become of what could still go wrong.

With a driver like him and his history of injuries, that's understandable.

123 GP wins – and now more than ever?

Herlings not only won his sixth world championship title in Afyon. With this overall victory, he increased his personal tally to 123 Grand Prix wins, according to his own statement. Eleven of these came in his very first season with Honda HRC Petronas.

Anyone who thinks that this takes the pressure off for the final races will get a different answer from Herlings.

"I don't really have time to take some time off now. I'll be back on the training track because we still have a few races ahead of us. The season isn't over just because I'm world champion."

Now I'm trying to extend my records for GP and Moto wins. We'll keep going until the end. The competition is still tough. Some riders are injured, but you see every weekend that someone else is fast. It's never easy to win.

One might dismiss this as the typical response of a newly crowned world champion. However, a few seconds later, Herlings explained quite clearly why he actually doesn't intend to simply coast through the rest of the season.

What still motivates you after six World Championships?

"I simply hate losing. That's the first thing. Of course, I'll enjoy this evening. At the same time, I'm already thinking about next weekend and winning again."

If I hadn't won the second moto today, I wouldn't have been able to truly enjoy the evening. And the same applies to my world championships: in all six titles, I also won the moto in which I became world champion.

I hate the idea of ​​finishing in 15th place and becoming world champion that way. In my opinion, that's no way to win a world championship.

There's probably more Jeffrey Herlings in this than in many statistics of his career.

He could have done the math in Afyon. He didn't have to win. Instead, he took both starts, led every lap, and turned a day on which he only needed enough points for the World Championship into his 123rd Grand Prix victory.

For Herlings, titles and winnings still seem to go hand in hand.

Number 1 in 2027?

One question remained after the World Championship decision: Will the number 1 be on the Honda next year? Herlings has already used this number once. However, the relationship doesn't seem to have become particularly close.

"That's a good question. I don't like arrogance at all. When I was 18, and maybe until I was 25, I was quite outspoken and rather arrogant myself. I think I've changed a lot since then."

The number 1 makes you a target. If someone wants to shoot at something, then number 1 is exactly that target. Everyone wants to beat that driver.

I've used the number before – for a single photo shoot. That was it.

The matter is apparently not yet completely decided. Herlings wants to discuss it with Honda first. However, he immediately added his personal preference: "We will discuss it with the team. But..." My heart belongs to number 84.. "

After 16 years with KTM, five world championship titles in orange and now the sixth title in the very first year with Honda, Herlings has already changed quite a lot.

There seems to be a significantly lower willingness to change one thing: the number 84 will likely remain with us for some time.