Source: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM’s Jeffrey Herlings is facing a race against time to make the start-gates at Qatar’s opening round of the 2017 MXGP World Championship after being injured in Italy last weekend.

Current MX2 title-holder Herlings clashed with reigning world champion Tim Gajser in the first moto and sustained an undisclosed arm injury, which could ultimately delay his highly-anticipated premier class debut.

“Jeffrey remains in his plaster until Monday, then follows a new medical check-up,” Red Bull KTM sports director Joel Smets told MXLarge. “His bikes will certainly be present for the first GP – the decision whether or not to ride can be postponed until the last moment depending on how Jeffrey feels.

“Last season Clement Desalle fought in the opening races of the GPs through the pain to grab some points and to ride himself back into shape, which is not an ideal scenario. I can certainly advise that against Jeffrey to not do that. If you are not fit enough to ride, certainly at this level it does not make sense to start. I do not think that Herlings wants to do it, just to ride for a few points is definitely not his style.”

Stay tuned for more when announced by the Red Bull KTM or the Herlings camp in the lead-up to the opening round at Losail Circuit on 25 February.