Image: Ray Archer.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jeffrey Herlings has been cleared by his doctors to race in the final round of the MX2 World Championship in Leon, Mexico, this weekend.

The Dutch rider, who celebrates his 20th birthday on Friday, holds a 23-point lead over his factory teammate Jordi Tixier going into the final round.

Herlings has enjoyed an incredible streak of results in the 2014, winning 12 of the first 13 rounds of the championship, including 22 individual race wins. With what seemed to be an insurmountable lead in the points, he then suffered a broken femur in a charity race in Belgium and has missed the last three rounds.

“We’re cautiously pleased that Jeffrey’s doctors have cleared him to race in Mexico, even though it will be difficult for him after some weeks of healing the fracture,” said Pit Beirer, head of KTM Motorsport.

“Of course he lacks race practice and doesn’t have the same level of fitness he had before his accident, but we feel he deserves to have a fighting chance to wrap up the title.”

Beirer also said KTM and the factory team was very grateful to the rehabilitation experts Ortema who went out of their way to provide Herlings with some additional protection for his leg.

“They made a special trip to Jeffrey’s home in the evening this week to take a sample cast of his leg,” Beirer added. “Then they worked all night to make him a special carbon knee brace.‎ It was a great gesture and one that we appreciate very much. Without this kind of professional dedication and willingness to help us in a difficult situation, Jeffrey would not have this opportunity.”

Beirer underlined that behind the campaign to ensure Jeffrey is fit and well enough to ride in Mexico has also been a team of doctors, physiotherapists and medical staff that have put in an extraordinary effort.

“Jeffrey’s own determination to make it happen, and the expertise of these medical specialists and their staff have together played a decisive role in getting him back on the track,” he concluded.

Herlings and Tixier, the two Red Bull KTM MX2 factory riders who both compete on the KTM 250 SX-F are the only two with a mathematical chance to take the title. Husqvarna’s Romain Febvre is currently in third but is 60 points behind the leader with just 50 points up for grabs this weekend in Mexico.