Current MX2 World Championship title-holder Jeffrey Herlings capped off his quarter-litre career with a victory at Glen Helen’s final round of the 2016 MXGP series in the United States.

Following multiple injury-plagued seasons and a collarbone injury that almost derailed his 2016 championship hopes, the Dutch rider is satisfied with his exit from the class as he prepares to step up to the premier MX1 class next season.

“To finish off the season with a win is pretty amazing,” said Herlings. “Now I start to ride the KTM 450 SX-F and we’ll work from there. I think I had the strongest Americans here, except Cooper Webb. Jeremy Martin and Austin Forkner are the number two and three in my eyes. I beat those guys three times – on Saturday in the qualifying and twice in today’s motos.

“I also beat Cooper fair and square in the first moto in Charlotte then he beat me in the second race. I think I showed some great speed and good form, even though I was off the bike for 5-6 weeks and have only been back 3-4 weeks. I think I can say we had it under control.”

Content with his MX2 career, Herlings believes it is time to step up to the MXGP class and sticking with the Red Bull KTM squad during that move should see minimal changes made to his program during the move.

“I think we had a very successful career so far and now its time to step up to the big boys,” he said. “There’s not going to be much change, you stay with the same team and keep working with the same people.”

Due to a recent contract extension, Herlings will remain with the Red Bull KTM team through to the year 2020.