JORGE PRADO FACTS – THE 2019 MX2 WORLD CHAMPION

The 18-year-old Jorge Prado is probably one of the most talented riders in the world. His World Championship career started back in 2011 when the Spanish kid won the 65cc Junior Motocross World Championship in Cingoli, Italy, the same year he won the EMX65 title, too.

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KTM noticed something special on the Spaniard sensation and Prado’s family moved to Belgium in order to support him to start a professional career as a motocross rider. They moved from Lugo to Lommel and in 2015 his efforts were paid off as Prado won the EMX125 Championship. In 2016 he entered the EMX250 class, one of the most competitive ones, but without shining as he used to do in the previous years, so once the Championship was over, he made his debut in the FIM MX2 World Championship as a wild card. The first GP he lined up was at the deep sandy track of Assen, where he found himself battling with the experienced Championship leader Jeffrey Herlings. A confident Jorge Prado started first in race 2 and he managed to lead for 15 minutes putting his name among the few riders who have been able to lead on Jeffrey Herlings.

In 2017 Jorge Prado lined up in MX2 finishing 7^th in the Championship standings with three GP wins, being the first one in Pietramurata, Trentino, and repeating his success in the sandy tracks of Lommel and Assen.

In 2018 Jorge Prado moved to the Italian side of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing and Claudio and Davide De Carli took the challenge to guide the young Spanish rider to the top of the MX2 class. However, the Spanish rider got injured before the start of season and could not perform at his best during the first rounds of the 2018, but he managed to regroup and won the fourth Grand Prix in Trentino, Italy. After that race Prado was unbeatable winning in Portugal, Germany, France, Ottobiano and the two Indonesian rounds, showing an experienced and matured rider to the world. Prado, who was known as a sand specialist, proved his outstanding skills also on hard track, and left the Czech Grand Prix with the red plate on his KTM and kept it until the last round of the championship in Imola, Italy, where he arrived knowing he was already the 2018 FIM MX2 World Champion as his rival Jonass was not going to take part in the event. The Spanish rider ended the season in style by winning the Italian GP with 1-1.

Jorge Prado’s 2018 season was nothing short of impressive, the 17-year old became the first Spanish MX2 World Champion via 10 pole positions, 331 laps in the lead, 26 holeshots out of 40, 17 individual race wins, 12 overall victories and 17 podiums. Prado scored 873 points in 20 rounds of racing averaging 43.6 points per race of the maximum of 50.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado saw his main rival Pauls Jonass moving into the main class, but he was fully motivated to defend the MX2 title against all his other opponents. The 2019 season started with a perfect 1-1 in Argentina, but then he was forced to miss the British GP in Matterley Basin due to an injury sustained during training. After his comeback at the 3^rd stop of the season in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands, the young Spanish rider won every single GP except in Sweden, where he was crowned MX2 World Champion for the second time, with still two Grand Prix left.

Jorge Prado won the first race at the MXGP of Sweden ahead of Vialle and Jacobi and it was enough to ensure his back-to-back title in MX2. Jorge Prado had his greatest career results in 2019 with 12 pole positions, 470 laps led, 31 race wins and 16 GP wins out of 18 rounds at only 18 years old. Besides, thanks to Jorge Prado KTM have now claimed the eleventh MX2 World Title in sixteen seasons.

Prado is definitely the master of starts as he dominated the FOX Holeshot competition in 2018 with 26 black plates and in 2019 with 23.

Next up for the Spaniard was his 450cc debut in the MXGP class at the 2019 Monster Energy FIM MXoN taking place in Assen at the Netherlands. To say that Prado impressed quite a few would be an understatement. With the deep sand of the man-made circuit and the tough weather conditions, Prado rode incredibly well in the MXGP qualifying heat as he led some of the race before being passed by Jeremy Seewer and later Tim Gajser and Jeremy Van Horebeek, a group of highly experienced MXGP riders.

In the first MXGP & MX2 combined race, Prado finished the race in 3^rd and 7^th in the race 3 (MXGP combined OPEN). This gave many just an insight of what to expect from the young Spaniard, as he could be a real contender for the MXGP championship in 2020. And with the strong Red Bull KTM Factory squad behind him, we could see Prado make regular appearances on the podium next season.

Quick Facts

Birth information: 05/01/2001

First GP Raced: 2016, MXGP of the Netherlands, Assen

World Titles                3 (2 MX2 – 1 – 65cc)

First World Title         2011, 65 cc

GP wins                     31 MX2                                     

First GP win               2017, MXGP of Trentino, Pietramurata, MX2         

Last GP win              2019, JUST1 MXGP OF CHINA presented by Hehui Investment Group, Shanghai,

2019 position in the Championship      1, MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

2019 MX2 FIM MOTOCROSS WORLD CHAMPION

MX2 World Champion!

Other results