MXGP World Championship
Chatter Box: Jorge Prado
An insightful chat with Jorge Prado.
There was a lot to discuss with Jorge Prado, following the Grand Prix of Europe. Prado was involved in some gruelling battles with Pauls Jonass in both motos, but came up just short in the end, and things got a little heated at points. A lot more was covered in this exclusive interview, including the United States and switch to a new awning. The audio version is available elsewhere on MX Vice.
MX Vice: Second on the day and so close to the win, so I’m guessing you are a little bit disappointed. But, at the same time, you got a lot more points than Argentina, so you are going in the right direction.
Yeah, sure. This is way better than Argentina. Riding-wise was pretty much the same. It was better. I felt really, really good on the bike this weekend. First podium of the season. It is good it came quick, because now it just gets better.
I know you only injured your elbow a month ago, or got back from it a month ago, so I am surprised by your fitness and that you can go this pace just as long as Pauls. Are you surprising yourself at this point?
After all the training I have done, no. I am not surprised. I am training with Tony. I know he is so strong. He has the whole moto and I know if I can hold to him, I do no hold to him because he is faster, but if I get close to him and I just keep my rhythm and looking to his lap times as well, if I know I can do that then I know I am fit. We train together on the bike always, so that is great for me. I can feel it now that once I was behind Pauls I had everything under control. I was feeling great. Even the last laps I even feel better than in the beginning. I am feeling really strong this year, way better than last year.
You are not missing any bike fitness though? Obviously you got to cycle and everything even whilst you were injured, but riding a bike is completely different and uses different muscles. Are you not missing any of that?
Honestly, every time I came back from an injury like the riding is never the problem. The speed is normally never a problem, because that is something that you just have it. But, no, I would train hard. We train hard. We have a great programme and that pays off.
Going back to today, in that second moto, I do not know if you know this, but in sector three, the waves over the back, you were faster than Pauls. Do you know anything that you were doing differently there?
Yeah, a couple of laps and probably because in the first sector there was this left corner. It was really tight and every time he goes in front of me I need to brake, because I do not want to get full of roost. Then I push kind of like at the end of that sector, because he always gets a gap. So then the third one, because it is close to the finish line, I always try to kind of push again a little bit. It is just because I had different lines. I am used to this kind of conditions, because I trained here like when I was on an 85 and 125. Every year since this year I am off to Italy. I have quite some experience with this kind of track. Lines and probably me because I wanted to go a bit faster – that is probably why I was a bit faster than him.
It is the jumpiest part of the track with the waves and everything, so I guess that suits your style perfectly. We know you like supercross and all of that.
Yesterday the waves were a bit harder. Today everybody could go pretty fast. Even though in the second moto I almost crashed. I was so close. I could not make that much difference with the jumps and the waves, especially in the sand. The bike is going so slow that you do not even have the speed to even double or whatever. But, in the sand, there are things like with the braking bumps and all that stuff where you can win a lot of time.
I know in that second moto a few people noticed that on the finish jump Pauls kind of whipped it in your face and then you put your hand up. Maybe to pull a roll-off or something. Was that you kind of being a bit unhappy with that move?
Yeah, I was a bit unhappy. We jumped the jump before, like probably I was just a bit faster than him in the corner before that. We jumped together that jump, then on the finish line just before the takeoff he just came to my side, and I was already completely on the right side of the track. I could not move. I could not do anything. I was like, okay, he moved, but I was expecting him to jump straight.
Then he whips and I had to just move the front wheel, because otherwise he would touch my front wheel and then I do not want to crash. So, I was really not happy. I was kind of expecting that move once we got into the ramp, because last year in Lommel he did pretty much the same. Not only one time, but a couple of times. I knew he was going to do that kind of. I did not like it so much, but it is okay. It is part of racing.
I guess it is a bit annoying, because obviously if that happened a lot last year. You would think that in the off-season you would kind of leave that behind and start a new season fresh. Fair enough if you are battling for a championship and it is the last round, but it is round two. That sort of stuff should not be happening yet really, should it?
Yeah, it is still a long championship but once you are in the track I do not think you really think it is only round two. You just want to win and you just want to do your best. So maybe he just did not think about… I do not know. Still second round. Still a long championship and so many things can happen.
Going into RedSand next week, obviously the Portuguese GP last year was kind of close to home to you. That did not go so well. Are you putting any pressure on yourself?
No, but it would be nice if I could win. I do not say I am going to, but it would be nice in front of all the Spanish fans that come support me and friends I do not see in a while because I am in Italy or training or at races. But it will be nice for sure. Last year we did not have a GP, like you said. It would be great.
It is a bit early to ask this question, but I only thought about it because we spoke about it here last year. When we did speak last year, you said that you had permission from Pit Beirer to go to America after this season if you wanted to. Has that developed at all? Do you know what your future holds at all? It is early.
Today you are the second guy that asked me this question. No, for sure, if I would stay in the same place as I was last year and did not move to Claudio’s side. If I would stay in the same place I would probably say yeah. But now I am feeling at home. I am feeling really good here. I do not need to move, because I do not want to break any record. I just want to be happy and ride where I want to. KTM is always there. They are doing a great job with supporting me. I am really happy. If I want to go one day to US and I am riding okay, they will support me and they are supporting me so hard over here that I have everything everybody would like to. I am feeling good, home, and that is the most important thing for sure.
You say you did not miss any fitness or anything with the injury, but seeing as you are on a new bike I am guessing you missed a lot of testing time? Are you still making improvements with the bike, learning it, and are there other things that you want to improve over the next couple of weeks?
No, I did not miss anything of that. My bike is basically perfect. You can ride it and it does not even move to the sides. No, I am joking. It moves sometimes. I did not miss so much testing because I did quite a lot of testing before the injury, and the bike was already kind of set for the first GP already before I got injured. Just small things; really, really, really small things.
This year I am lucky to work with Claudio, like I said before, and he knows a lot about this. He keeps the bike perfect for every weekend. I trust him, in what he thinks. Sometimes he comes and says, better like this? I would say, okay, if you think that is right, just go for it. I do not even think about it. He knows a lot, so I am happy.
I guess that is important, because being so young you obviously do not have that much experience with testing and knowing what sort of stuff you like. Having someone like that to kind of point you in the right direction, and I am sure Tony helps with that as well, I guess that is a big plus to being on this team?
Yeah. Tony it is more like when we go for training that I have someone for reference and to learn from. Things are a bit different like suspension and whatever. I like the bike a bit different. Every rider has his special set-up. I am a rider that I know pretty much what I want every time in testing and how to make the bike good, but Claudio makes that plus that works good for every track. Not for one track, but for every track. I am really, really happy with that.
Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: KTM Images/Ray Archer
MXGP World Championship
2024 Spain Intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos – MXGP Results
We will post the 2024 MXGP results of Spain Intu Xanadú – Arroyomolinos GP all weekend. Get the latest updates to your phone through MX Vice.
MXGP Championship
MXGP Overall
MXGP Race Two
MXGP Race One
MXGP Qualification Race
MXGP Timed Practice
MX2 Championship
MX2 Overall
MX2 – Race Two
MX2 – Race One
MX2 – Qualification Race
MX2 Timed Practice
WMX Race Two
WMX Race One
EMX 250 Overall
EMX 250 – Race 2
EMX 250 – Race 1
EMX 250 – Timed Practice
MXGP World Championship
//PEARCY Stats Preview MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos
Once again, our resident stats guru, Paul Pearcy, provides a breakdown of the MX2 class going into Intu Xanadu. Famed more for its access to a shopping mall and McDonald’s than actual passing, the MX2 contenders will be looking to make their mark. Last year, Simon Laengenfelder reigned supreme and was unstoppable on Sunday, with no rider able to match his pace. If you were a betting man, who would be your winner?
MXGP Intu Xanadu-Arroyomolinos Preview
MX2
Kay de Wolf
Venue Visits: 21’, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 3rd
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
- Qualifying Race Finish: 4th
- Qualifying Points: 7
- Race First Lap Position: 6th
- Race Finishes: 5th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 8th
- Race Points: 54
Total Points: 61
Simon Laengenfelder
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
- Race Podiums: 4; 22’, 23’
- Race Wins: 2; 1-1 in 23’
- Overall Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
- Overall win: 1; 23’
- Race Laps Led: 34; all in 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 4.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 3rd
- Qualifying Points: 8
- Race First Lap Position: 5.167
- Race Finishes: 4.333 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 4.333
- Race Points: 113
Total Points: 121
Thibault Benistant
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
- Race Podium: 1; 23’
- Race Laps Led: 1, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 6.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 5.5
- Qualifying Points: 5
- Race First Lap Position: 12.667
- Race Finishes: 5.667 in Race 1, 6.333 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 6.333
- Race Points: 92
Total Points: 97
Mikkel Haarup
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 9th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 12th
- Race First Lap Position: 12.5
- Race Finishes: 12.333 in Race 1, 9.667 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 10.667
- Race Points: 60
Total Points: 60
Andrea Adamo
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
- Race Podium: 1; 23’
- Overall Podium: 1; 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 11th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 6.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 6
- Race First Lap Position: 11.667
- Race Finishes: 9.333 in Race 1, 12.667 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 10.333
- Race Points: 70
Total Points: 76
Lucas Coenen
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 6th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
- Qualifying Points: 9
- Race First Lap Position: 17.5
- Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 26th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 14th
- Race Points: 15
Total Points: 24
Sacha Coenen
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 19th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 24th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 17th
- Race First Lap Position: 8.5
- Race Finishes: 9th in Race 1, 11th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 9th
- Race Points: 22
Total Points: 22
Rick Elzinga
Venue Visits: 22’, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 10th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 21.5
- Race First Lap Position: 4.25
- Race Finishes:13th in Race 1, 10th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 14.5
- Race Points: 27
Total Points: 27
Jack Chambers
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 22nd
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 15th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 15th
- Race First Lap Position: 24.5
- Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 17th
- Race Points: 9
Total Points: 9
Oriol Oliver
Venue Visits: 21’, 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 17.5
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 16th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
- Race First Lap Position: 12.75
- Race Finishes:17th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 17.5
- Race Points: 19
Total Points: 19
David Braceras
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 16th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 15.5
- Race First Lap Position: 12.75
- Race Finishes:14.5 in Race 1, 16th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 16.5
- Race Points: 23
Total Points: 23
Emil Weckman
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 17th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 10th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
- Race First Lap Position: 12.5
- Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 19th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 18th
- Race Points: 8
Total Points: 8
Bobby Bruce
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 20th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 12th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 26th
- Race First Lap Position: 23rd
- Race Finishes: 27th in Race 1, 21st in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 17th
MXGP
Jorge Prado
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
- 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 22’
- Qualifying Race Podiums: 2; 22’, 23’
- Qualifying Race Win: 1; 23’
- Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
- Race Podiums: 6
- Race Wins: 2
- Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’
- Overall Win: 1; 20’ (1-1 in 20’)
- Race Laps Led: 56
Averages
- Timed Practice: 3rd
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 1.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 10
- Race First Lap Position: 2.125
- Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 3rd
- Race Points: 160
Total Points: 170
Romain Febvre
Venue Visits: 20’, 21’, 23’
- Race Podiums: 3
- Race Win: 1; 21’
- Overall Podium: 1; 20’
- Race Laps Led: 11
Averages
- Timed Practice: 5.667
- Race First Lap Position: 8.5
- Race Finishes: 1.5 in Race 1, 5th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 3.5
- Race Points: 81
Total Points: 81
Tim Gajser
Venue Visits: 20’-22’
- 1st in Timed Practice: 1; 20’
- Race Podiums: 4
- Overall Podiums: 2; 20’, 21’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 1.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
- Race First Lap Position: 3.5
- Race Finishes: 3rd in Race 1, 3.333 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 3rd
- Race Points: 119
Total Points: 119
Pauls Jonass
Venue Visits: 21’, 22’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 8.5
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 3rd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 9th
- Race First Lap Position: 7.25
- Race Finishes: 7.5 in Race 1, 7th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 7.5
- Race Points: 55
Total Points: 55
Maxime Renaux
Venue Visit: 22’, 23’
- Race Wins: 2; 22’ (1-1 in 22’)
- Overall Win: 1; 22’
- Race Laps Led: 31
Averages
- Timed Practice: 4th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 5th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 13th
- Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Race Finishes: 1st in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 1st
- Race Points: 50
Total Points: 50
Jeremy Seewer
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
- Qualifying Race Podium: 1; 23’
- Qualifying Race Laps Led: 1; 22’
- Race Laps Led: 5
Averages
- Timed Practice: 6.5
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 4th
- Qualifying Race Points: 8
- Race First Lap Position: 5.375
- Race Finishes: 8.5 in Race 1, 5.25 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 7th
- Race Points: 115
Total Points: 123
Jeffery Herlings
Venue Visits: 21’, 23’
- 1st in Timed Practice: 2; 21’, 23’
- Qualifying Race Podiums: 1; 23’
- Race Podiums: 4;(Jeffrey has podiumed 100% of the races he has competed in)
- Race Wins: 3; (Herlings has won 75% of the victories he has vied for)
- Overall Wins: 2; (100% win rate)
- Race Laps Led: 27
Averages
- Timed Practice: 1st
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 2nd
- Qualifying Race Points: 9
- Race First Lap Position: 4.75
- Race Finishes: 2nd in Race 1, 1st in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 1st
- Race Points: 95
Total Points: 104
Glenn Coldenhoff
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
- Qualifying Race Win: 1; 22’
- Qualifying Race Laps Led: 12
- Race Podium: 1; 22’
- Overall Podium: 1; 22’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 7.25
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 4th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 3.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 5
- Race First Lap Position: 5.125
- Race Finishes: 6th in Race 1, 6.5 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 5th
- Race Points: 123
Total Points: 128
Calvin Vlaanderen
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 12th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 14.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 11th
- Qualifying Race Points: 2
- Race First Lap Position: 15.625
- Race Finishes: 11.5 in Race 1, 12.75 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 12.25
- Race Points: 71
Total Points: 73
Valentin Guillod
Venue Visits: 20’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 18th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 19.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 12.5
- Qualifying Race Points: 1
- Race First Lap Position: 14.75
- Race Finishes: 12th in Race 1, 15.25 in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 14.25
- Race Points: 62
Total Points: 63
Ben Watson
Venue Visits: 21’-23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 14.667
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20.5
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 24.5
- Race First Lap Position: 16.5
- Race Finishes: 19th in Race 1
- Overall Finishes: 22nd
- Race Points: 2
Total Points: 2
Ivo Monticelli
Venue Visits: 20’, 22’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 12th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 9th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 24th
- Race First Lap Position: 16.75
- Race Finishes: 15th in Race 1, 13th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 13th
- Race Points: 28
Total Points: 28
Kevin Brumann
Venue Visit: 23’
Averages
- Timed Practice: 17th
- Qualifying Race First Lap Position: 20th
- Qualifying Race Finishes: 20th
- Race First Lap Position: 20th
- Race Finishes: 14th in Race 1, 17th in Race 2
- Overall Finishes: 15th
- Race Points: 11
Total Points: 11
Photo: KTM Group
MX Vice Podcasts
Between The Races Podcast: Adam Sterry – MXGP of Patagonia-Argentina Recap and Spain Preview
Listen now.
The Between The Races podcast returns with Adam Sterry, Ed Stratmann and Brad Wheeler, as they review the 2024 MXGP season opener and look ahead to Spain.
The Between The Races podcast is always available to listen to on Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, Stitcher and Google Play. Thanks to Fly Racing, Monster Energy, Fox Racing, Parts Europe, Scott, Bell Helmets, Acerbis, AS3 Performance, Kawasaki UK, KTM UK, O’Neal and Even Strokes for supporting the show. If you would like to become a part of the show, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Lead Image: Triumph Racing/Ray Archer
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