What are your expectations for Prado in 2025 SX?

crusty_xx 1/12/2025 5:36am
1/12/2025 5:36am
Spoonguy wrote:
I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of...

I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of mechanics, as much time as needed on track, any coach he wanted, trainers, any parts, etc.. Pales in comparison to a lifetime of experience some of the 30-33 year olds racing have but he is a multi-time world champ as well, dirt bikes are not new to him. He has the all the resources anyone could need to succeed. The whole great starts and fighting for position is great and it is racing, but it may develop into trouble for him.

crusty_xx wrote:
6 months??? You think he was over on the SX test tracks in June?He didn't get to the US until mid October. Not sure if he...

6 months??? You think he was over on the SX test tracks in June?

He didn't get to the US until mid October. Not sure if he went into full testing mode on day 1 after a full mxgp season either. So at best it would have been 2.5 months of testing. But he had to take two breaks (broke his pinky and hit is head). 

Realistically he has had 6 weeks of testing, not 6 months. And it's the first time in his life on a bike without a steel frame. I also imagine testing being challenging when your speed increases week after week. You find a good setup but two weeks later it's no longer working because you're a second a lap faster. 

If this is him with this little prep he'll be a force in a couple months. He doesn't only lose time in the whoops. He loses his rhythm, focus, confidence. Once He figures out the whoops it will help him go faster on the rest of the track as well. 

Spoonguy wrote:
Ok how about three weeks time then. 15 days no weekends. Riding with Jason Anderson, maybe some Pro Circuit riders. Semis, parts, technicians, trainers. 15 days...

Ok how about three weeks time then. 15 days no weekends. Riding with Jason Anderson, maybe some Pro Circuit riders. Semis, parts, technicians, trainers. 15 days every day, multi time World Champ, just assume he never raced the four Supercrosses he did last year. You don't assume he would be able to pass one rider, not one? Not beat one other factory rider? You don't think him and his team are disappointed?

Kinda hard to pass a rider when you start first in all races? 

By the way he passed and gapped Friese after going over the bars in the whoops.

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quadzrulebro 1/12/2025 5:39am
1/12/2025 5:39am Edited Date/Time 1/12/2025 6:42am
Spoonguy wrote:
I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of...

I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of mechanics, as much time as needed on track, any coach he wanted, trainers, any parts, etc.. Pales in comparison to a lifetime of experience some of the 30-33 year olds racing have but he is a multi-time world champ as well, dirt bikes are not new to him. He has the all the resources anyone could need to succeed. The whole great starts and fighting for position is great and it is racing, but it may develop into trouble for him.

crusty_xx wrote:
6 months??? You think he was over on the SX test tracks in June?He didn't get to the US until mid October. Not sure if he...

6 months??? You think he was over on the SX test tracks in June?

He didn't get to the US until mid October. Not sure if he went into full testing mode on day 1 after a full mxgp season either. So at best it would have been 2.5 months of testing. But he had to take two breaks (broke his pinky and hit is head). 

Realistically he has had 6 weeks of testing, not 6 months. And it's the first time in his life on a bike without a steel frame. I also imagine testing being challenging when your speed increases week after week. You find a good setup but two weeks later it's no longer working because you're a second a lap faster. 

If this is him with this little prep he'll be a force in a couple months. He doesn't only lose time in the whoops. He loses his rhythm, focus, confidence. Once He figures out the whoops it will help him go faster on the rest of the track as well. 

Spoonguy wrote:
Ok how about three weeks time then. 15 days no weekends. Riding with Jason Anderson, maybe some Pro Circuit riders. Semis, parts, technicians, trainers. 15 days...

Ok how about three weeks time then. 15 days no weekends. Riding with Jason Anderson, maybe some Pro Circuit riders. Semis, parts, technicians, trainers. 15 days every day, multi time World Champ, just assume he never raced the four Supercrosses he did last year. You don't assume he would be able to pass one rider, not one? Not beat one other factory rider? You don't think him and his team are disappointed?

The only thing that will disappoint his team is if he gets hurt prior to the outdoor series.  That’s why he has such a long term contract.  No one is expecting him to move forward through the pack in his first full year of SX.  
Jett only beat a single factory rider last night, and that was Prado (after his crash). 

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philG 1/12/2025 5:41am
1/12/2025 5:41am
Spoonguy wrote:
Oh well, I see your point. After Kawasaki gave him the multi-year contract I guess it must have stipulated he only practice at Corona and was...

Oh well, I see your point. After Kawasaki gave him the multi-year contract I guess it must have stipulated he only practice at Corona and was forbidden to practice real race conditions. I imagine after A1 they thought to themselves, "What were we thinking, there really are cupped out whoops on this track!"

philG wrote:

You sure 'outdumbed' yourself there. 

 

Spoonguy wrote:

I see your point, 15th is great for a multi time world champ.

And again. 

Is that so much worse than 11th for the guy who was going to have a perfect season? 

 

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Kyzer138
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Kyzer138 1/12/2025 5:43am
1/12/2025 5:43am

Prado did exactly what I thought he would do. Good start, struggle in the whoops, fall back. Still survived A1 and will be at round 2!

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quadzrulebro 1/12/2025 5:44am
1/12/2025 5:44am
Spoonguy wrote:
I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of...

I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of mechanics, as much time as needed on track, any coach he wanted, trainers, any parts, etc.. Pales in comparison to a lifetime of experience some of the 30-33 year olds racing have but he is a multi-time world champ as well, dirt bikes are not new to him. He has the all the resources anyone could need to succeed. The whole great starts and fighting for position is great and it is racing, but it may develop into trouble for him.

crusty_xx wrote:
6 months??? You think he was over on the SX test tracks in June?He didn't get to the US until mid October. Not sure if he...

6 months??? You think he was over on the SX test tracks in June?

He didn't get to the US until mid October. Not sure if he went into full testing mode on day 1 after a full mxgp season either. So at best it would have been 2.5 months of testing. But he had to take two breaks (broke his pinky and hit is head). 

Realistically he has had 6 weeks of testing, not 6 months. And it's the first time in his life on a bike without a steel frame. I also imagine testing being challenging when your speed increases week after week. You find a good setup but two weeks later it's no longer working because you're a second a lap faster. 

If this is him with this little prep he'll be a force in a couple months. He doesn't only lose time in the whoops. He loses his rhythm, focus, confidence. Once He figures out the whoops it will help him go faster on the rest of the track as well. 

Spoonguy wrote:
Ok how about three weeks time then. 15 days no weekends. Riding with Jason Anderson, maybe some Pro Circuit riders. Semis, parts, technicians, trainers. 15 days...

Ok how about three weeks time then. 15 days no weekends. Riding with Jason Anderson, maybe some Pro Circuit riders. Semis, parts, technicians, trainers. 15 days every day, multi time World Champ, just assume he never raced the four Supercrosses he did last year. You don't assume he would be able to pass one rider, not one? Not beat one other factory rider? You don't think him and his team are disappointed?

Ricky Carmichael finished 19th in his 5th 250 SX ever, and I’d say he turned out ok.

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Spoonguy
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Spoonguy 1/12/2025 5:49am
1/12/2025 5:49am
philG wrote:

You sure 'outdumbed' yourself there. 

 

Spoonguy wrote:

I see your point, 15th is great for a multi time world champ.

philG wrote:

And again. 

Is that so much worse than 11th for the guy who was going to have a perfect season? 

 

I get it now. Prado was hired to ride around and not get hurt Saturday nights, he is allowed to holeshot though, forbidden to practice on cupped out whoops, and yet almost beat Jett.

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Ayren
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Ayren 1/12/2025 5:55am
1/12/2025 5:55am

For everyone saying he’s been training months, He broke his finger training and also had a hard crash later, actually he’s only been training 3 weeks this preseason

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Spoonguy
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Spoonguy 1/12/2025 8:58am
1/12/2025 8:58am

Nobody is saying Prado sucks, or that his results are not understandable. But considering his resume and available resources one could think it could have gone better. Perhaps he wins a heat, or gets to be consistent top ten this season, but his race I watched last night didn't reflect what could be hoped for.

RG437
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RG437 1/12/2025 9:18am
1/12/2025 9:18am
Spoonguy wrote:
I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of...

I know he is new to supercross, but he had maybe 3-6 months practicing last year? 6 months or more this year? With a team of mechanics, as much time as needed on track, any coach he wanted, trainers, any parts, etc.. Pales in comparison to a lifetime of experience some of the 30-33 year olds racing have but he is a multi-time world champ as well, dirt bikes are not new to him. He has the all the resources anyone could need to succeed. The whole great starts and fighting for position is great and it is racing, but it may develop into trouble for him.

When were these 6-12 months of SX practice he had? He had November and December and 4 races last year and probably about the same this year given that he missed 3-4 weeks of preparation time with injury 

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prozach
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prozach 1/12/2025 9:23am
1/12/2025 9:23am
Spoonguy wrote:
Nobody is saying Prado sucks, or that his results are not understandable. But considering his resume and available resources one could think it could have gone...

Nobody is saying Prado sucks, or that his results are not understandable. But considering his resume and available resources one could think it could have gone better. Perhaps he wins a heat, or gets to be consistent top ten this season, but his race I watched last night didn't reflect what could be hoped for.

He was top ten in every sector of the track during the main except one. Had a best lap time right with pretty much everyone other than the top 5.   Got 2nd in his heat .  Was running a solid 7th in main until his crash. Every single person who beat him is a past supercross champion in either the 250 or 450 class. 

It's his first sx season.  That's pretty impressive.  The end result isn't great.  But if he can stay healthy and not miss races, I wouldn't doubt if he finishes the season in the 6-8 range in the points as a rookie.   

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