Jorge Prado debuts in Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship opening Round at Anaheim in the weekend taking the hole-shot in the Main Race and finishing P14 overall. In what can be described as a short build up in terms if preparation, testing, training, and sheer getting used to a new Team, new country, and new tracks – the MXGP Champion 2x and MX2 Champion 2x – has settled in to a new chapter of his racing career with great results.
As Jorge states, ”everything went way better than expected. This is actually only the 4th week on the bike – 3 weeks and 3 days of riding – I think I’m in a very good spot for the short amount of time. It was a great Heat Race – 2nd – I had good pace and led the Main Race in the opening lap. A pity for the crash and not the best feeling in the whoops – more the whole balance of the bike felt a little off – making me feel a bit uncomfortable. Starts were good and I’m very happy with my performance”. Reference DeCal Works Post-Race Chatter.
If the magnitude of racing a new experience seems challenging, Jorge proved more than capable of racing the premier of AMA Supercross Championship rider’s including 5 previous Champions: Jett Lawrence, Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, Cooper Webb, and Jason Anderson. Completing qualifying in P11 posting best lap time of 1:04.947 to P1 of Eli Tomac on 1:03.120 followed by Heat Race 2 position of P2 with best lap time of 1:06.032 to P1 of Chase Sexton’s best lap time of 1:05.032 – Jorge delivered results conducive to improving standings as the Series unfolds.
With plenty to digest over the coming week prior to Round 2 at San Diego on January 18, Jorge can take comfort that his attributes of winning gate-drop starts in either Motocross or Supercross will be hard to beat by even the most experienced SMX rider’s this season. Coupled with his relentless pursuance for consistency of results, and the Spanish rider could well rock the foundations of who grabs the first corner to stretch the all important gap over the rest of the field and take a debut podium.
Such sentiments have already been shared by Round 1’s winner – Chase Sexton commenting: “‘I really wanted to just get out in front, get out of the gate first – and I did start next to one of the best starter’s ever – Prado”. If Jorge brings all mental capacity, physical endurance, and technical ability from racing Europe’s MXGP to competing in America’s AMA Supercross Championships, the following Rounds 2 to 17 should be well, worth the watch.
Header photo: Monster Energy Supercross Championship Main Race Image: Racer X Illustrated.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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