Image: Ray Archer.

Dual MX2 Motocross World Champion Jeffrey Herlings believes it would be a close race between Red Bull KTM teammate Antonio Cairoli and Ryan Villopoto for the fastest man on the planet title.

Cairoli has swept all before him at the past two FIM Motocross of Nations, on the back of five consecutive MX1 world titles.

However with Ryan Villopoto absent on both occasions, it’s difficult to rate he and Cairoli head-to-head.

“[Cairoli] is on fire,” Herlings told MXlarge. “That dude is so good on a motocross bike, he won the last five MX1 championships in a row, he won all the motos in Lommel and then Germany for the last two MXoN events, he is the man.

“I mean America have Villopoto, but I still think Cairoli might be the fastest man on the planet. I think the only guy who can beat Antonio might be Villopoto.”

Herlings will remain in MX2 once again for 2014, with Cairoli continuing to spearhead KTM’s MXGP program aboard the 350 SX-F.

Click here for the complete interview with Herlings on MXlarge.