Edited Date/Time
12/20/2023 2:00pm
I understand that's a very unlikely scenario, but crazier things have happened in this sport.
Playing Devil's advocate:
So what does GasGas do if somehow Prado is leading the points in 2 or 3 rounds?
Do they stick to the plan and go back to MXGP?
Does he race until Round 7 before the late deadline to go back to MXGP?
It will match his bike.
As usual.
He heads back across the pond to try and win another world motocross championship.
This.......adding that it will probably be his last MXGP season knowing that he's a contender in SX
He'll be in opening ceremonies....
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He'll go back to win the MXGP title and then come to America for '25.
Is this a trick question, what happens? He is the points leader.
edit
And the Australians will be losing their minds.
It won't happen. He can have a lot of success in the US I think, but he is smart and won't go full vitard the first 3 rounds because he has another championship to try to win and he wants to come back
SX is so unforgiving...if he can survive the rounds he's committed to...I'd call that success and then head back home and finish business.
SX will be here when he's ready.
If he has the red plate, I imagine the KTM group will figure out a way for him to stay.
1st GP is March 10th? (and round 2 is May 12)
And, if he comes over here and Kicks Ass for 5…6…7 rounds of Supercross…against the likes of Eli, Sexton and The SX Mob…? (This assumes he’s stayed for more rounds due to having the Red plate)
I’m wondering if he can miss the Saturday program in Argentina & still race the GP since he’s the reigning champ…?
this ^^^
The Spanish Inquisition!
I’m here to see the people who were saying that US SX/MX commitments take precedence over MXoN and other bit part races and are now suggesting Prado should forego his MXGP commitments to try and win a couple more SX races.
Can’t see it happening. Many of his big sponsors will be European (I assume) or at least Euro divisions of worldwide companies. I couldn’t imagine they’d be happy with him suddenly abandoning a full MXGP season to try and win an SX championship that he would be a long way from favourite to win.
It's unlikely, but goals can change, if he's leading why would KTM walk away from a potential AMA Supercross title
I think even if he has moderate success he might stick around for a couple more.
He’s a fantastic rider, it would be awesome for him and the sport.
I’m also a fan of the Lawrence brothers being an Aussie.
I won’t be loosing my mind.
"...if he's leading why would KTM walk away from a potential AMA Supercross title[?]"
Read the first sentence of DeCoster's statement and there's your answer.
Pit Row
Except nobody has really said it
Read the rest of DeCoster's statement, DeCoster thinks he's talented, but doesn't think he is tough enough...
"However, we also know that Supercross at the highest level is extremely competitive and to race here requires a lot of toughness besides talent, so this will be a huge challenge for him."
If he is competitive, Prado's and KTM's goals may change.
Nowhere in DeCoster's entire statement does it say (or even suggest) that his main goal changes if he does well. There's also those pesky little contracts Prado has with all of his sponsors in Europe. I don't see KTM Group buying him out of those ($$$) just to have him in TLD gear a year early.
If Prado has the red plate after three rounds, it will be the best problem the GasGas team has ever had. I think perhaps JB had it for two rounds IIRC.
No actual first hand knowledge on the situation….. but, from podcasts and such it sounds like he’s not exactly lighting the world on fire at the test tracks. What I’ve heard being an outsider he is very smooth and calculated on a supercross track but doesn’t have much aggression behind it. It’s only testing and such but how crazy would it be if he couldn’t put it into a main.
Idk sounds like a good way to not get hurt during testing. His goal this year is to dip his toes in and see how it goes before possibly moving here full time and I think that he (and KTM) are realistic about his speed and expectations, regardless of what Vital thinks
He will return to Europe and will be back in the US in October/November, still has sponsorship obligations in Europe, but the red plate will help him for 2025 contract $$$.
Remember when Pourcel raced the first 3 250W races back in 2007, I believe he won the second race and still returned to Europe
A national title, verses World Championship.... I wonder!
Stink bait
More money > less money
Not saying he would stick around to race more if OP's scenario were to come to fruition (I feel the opposite, actually) but to think these guys are racing for simply pride alone is a bit silly. It's no lie that the top riders in AMA SX/MX are making the most money and have the most eyes on them in this sport, so what best serves you and your family at the end of the day? A trophy that says "world champion" or a bank account that has more digits in your balance?
I'm a big fan of Prado but I think people are getting carried away , this is for him to get a taste of it I think if he's in one piece and top ten that's a success after 3 rounds , there's literally 15 sx champions in that class and he's never raced one in his life , that's not to say he wouldn't pick it up but in that class after a few months on a sx track and a new bike I don't see it , be awesome to see him out there though look forward to that 👍
That’s true but getting ready for the season and testing he should try and see if he’s up to speed with the other riders he’s testing/training with. Like I said though I’m just going off podcasts and such. Obviously we all know he is a mxgp champ and a bad ass.
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