The Prado Mystery

matze
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Stuttgart DE
7/20/2025 6:01am Edited Date/Time 7/20/2025 6:04am

def reached a new low yesterday. Did he already give up and trying to bail out?

5
7/20/2025 6:03am
matze wrote:

def reached a new low yesterday. Did he already give up and trying to bail out?

Not sure what that means but when Lewis asked him about desnations he said he doesn't know and isn't sure what the future holds 

5
7/20/2025 6:34am

Take Jett, Eli or Chase and put them on a bone stock bike.  I bet they could still break 20th place.  I think Prado is WAY overplaying the “bike isn’t right” card.  At this point he’s just making himself look bad.  There’s a million excuses he could give that would be better accepted than bashing the team and manufacturer that’s paying your salary.  There are many riders who say the bike isn’t right but they say it in a much more tasteful way than how Prado does it.  Never met the guy in person but the way he comes across in interviews is cringe.  

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1

The Shop

soggy
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UT US
7/20/2025 6:42am
soggy wrote:
I don’t like Jorge’s interviews but I appreciate him being honest ( in his eyes) at least. Reminds me of f1 honestly. Those guys aren’t afraid...

I don’t like Jorge’s interviews but I appreciate him being honest ( in his eyes) at least. Reminds me of f1 honestly. Those guys aren’t afraid to critique the car. 

As someone posted above Kawi wouldn’t give Eli what he wanted. Perhaps they are doing the same with Prado. 

280driver wrote:
Kawasaki didn’t give Eli what he wanted, yet he was still able to win championships.  Compare that to what’s happening now with Prado.  In addition, I’d...

Kawasaki didn’t give Eli what he wanted, yet he was still able to win championships.  Compare that to what’s happening now with Prado.  In addition, I’d bet Kawi learned from the experience with the Tomac’s and are more flexible now.  They hired Broc as a full time rider after that to work directly with each rider on the team to get the bikes set-up for their specific styles. Broc has stated that in the past few weeks, they have developed different engine packages to try to give Prado what he’s looking for.  The results just don’t make sense.

I don’t think we assume Kawi is more flexible now. 

1
kawasa84
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Flower Mound, TX US
7/20/2025 6:44am

Too many people sticking up for "George's" poor performance and some get it about him. He clearly doesn't possess the fitness and speed needed to run at the front in the US. He also doesn't have the heart and desire and competitiveness in him to drive himself when he's not feeling it as he's getting passed.

I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt for many many of the races and moto after moto this year. I've read the excuses that some on here repeatedly make for him. 

But I finally admit I can't be on the fence on him any longer. Even if there are issues where he isn't comfortable on the bike, his spirit to fight isn't there. Maybe he returns to the MXGP's and can find success again, but he will never find it here in the US. I was initially very excited Kawasakin signed him. Now, I just want this over. There may  be a splash here and there of a top 5 ride here, but mark my words, Prado will never win, and never be a champion in the US. And when he starts getting passed by privateers and riders who come out of retirement, he shows he a fuckin wussie!!

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3
7/20/2025 6:44am

it's just awful watching him start pretty well and know that he's going to throw the anchor and fade. His confidence is CRUSHED. And as others have said, he just needs to state out loud "Man, what a terrible ride I had. It's all on me" and then STFU. 

9
JF953
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South Lake Tahoe, CA US
7/20/2025 6:49am
Bandito121 wrote:

It must not be the Kawi’s power but instead the brakes. They must work to good. I’ve  watched him get passed going down hill a lot. 

This is the first time in his career that hes been on an aluminum frame bike and he just can't figure out the setup, it has to be that at this point! There is absolutely no way that bike isn't fast enough....no way!! And in my opinion, even if he was on his old bike and he had everything he used to have, he would still not be on the podium, the top 3 are better than him period!

4
3
Kenny Banyan
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Seattle, WA US
7/20/2025 7:07am
kawasa84 wrote:
Too many people sticking up for "George's" poor performance and some get it about him. He clearly doesn't possess the fitness and speed needed to run...

Too many people sticking up for "George's" poor performance and some get it about him. He clearly doesn't possess the fitness and speed needed to run at the front in the US. He also doesn't have the heart and desire and competitiveness in him to drive himself when he's not feeling it as he's getting passed.

I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt for many many of the races and moto after moto this year. I've read the excuses that some on here repeatedly make for him. 

But I finally admit I can't be on the fence on him any longer. Even if there are issues where he isn't comfortable on the bike, his spirit to fight isn't there. Maybe he returns to the MXGP's and can find success again, but he will never find it here in the US. I was initially very excited Kawasakin signed him. Now, I just want this over. There may  be a splash here and there of a top 5 ride here, but mark my words, Prado will never win, and never be a champion in the US. And when he starts getting passed by privateers and riders who come out of retirement, he shows he a fuckin wussie!!

You’re not wrong…👍🏻💯

1
1
Kenny Banyan
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7/20/2025 7:09am

He’s not as good as he thought he was and he’s not as good as we thought he was. 

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3
OldManIdaho
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Location
Post Falls, ID US
7/20/2025 7:26am

Yesterday was sad seeing it in person. He looked like he was trail riding at times in the second moto. Saw him looking over his shoulder several times mid-moto when sitting mid-pack. Not a good look. I was excited for his arrival this year…but hard to watch this. Hope it doesn’t deter more Euro’s from coming in the future.

15
7/20/2025 7:27am
soggy wrote:
I don’t like Jorge’s interviews but I appreciate him being honest ( in his eyes) at least. Reminds me of f1 honestly. Those guys aren’t afraid...

I don’t like Jorge’s interviews but I appreciate him being honest ( in his eyes) at least. Reminds me of f1 honestly. Those guys aren’t afraid to critique the car. 

As someone posted above Kawi wouldn’t give Eli what he wanted. Perhaps they are doing the same with Prado. 

280driver wrote:
Kawasaki didn’t give Eli what he wanted, yet he was still able to win championships.  Compare that to what’s happening now with Prado.  In addition, I’d...

Kawasaki didn’t give Eli what he wanted, yet he was still able to win championships.  Compare that to what’s happening now with Prado.  In addition, I’d bet Kawi learned from the experience with the Tomac’s and are more flexible now.  They hired Broc as a full time rider after that to work directly with each rider on the team to get the bikes set-up for their specific styles. Broc has stated that in the past few weeks, they have developed different engine packages to try to give Prado what he’s looking for.  The results just don’t make sense.

soggy wrote:

I don’t think we assume Kawi is more flexible now. 

Kawi could be the same remember Huffman in 96 he ran MC down at Seattle then smoked the clutch every rider had a quick adjust clutch the next week. He wins atL then gets hurt testing the 125. 97 new frame etc he’s forced to run it Emig ran his 96 setup .  Damon never got the bike rt.  Larry Ward comes full circle & is back on Kawi the bike was horrible never did much on it. John Dowd same thing I don’t think he did anything on it.  Ezra never did much on it. Stew never won outdoors on the 250 but crashed his brains out on it , same in sx . Stew got some sx wins  tho. RV2 won on it but did it sliding the rear end to do so.  I never saw a rider having to flat track a  bike around the track.  Prado needs to do some ice riding this winter . Not only makes you faster you get a feeling of the bike you never would on dirt.   Todd DeHoop rode the ice went from mid pack to a 125 sx champion. 

4
6
7/20/2025 7:41am

Adding to that febvre came from supermoto likes to ride like that 

1
Zycki11
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Edwardsville, IL US
7/20/2025 7:44am

Attitude is everything, even if the bike isn’t in the window despite some on this board believing they should have it dialed by now….he should be positive, work and speak well with the team. That part is the negative in all of this. 

4
NateDawg241
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Duluth, GA US
7/20/2025 7:45am
His “the bike sucks!” routine is old news and it’s becoming more and more apparent that he just can’t hang in US motocross. The things he...

His “the bike sucks!” routine is old news and it’s becoming more and more apparent that he just can’t hang in US motocross. The things he said in that latest interview certainly don’t match any of his performances this year. If I were him, I’d keep my mouth closed about the bike ,because it’s to the point now, where he looks kinda dumb. There are privateers that would love to be on that bike working with a high level team. Maybe he should think about going back home and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did just that after the season is over.

Ayren wrote:
No man, you can’t say he is not good enought. He has win everyone on the field with his old bike. Hope kawi makes that shit...

No man, you can’t say he is not good enought. He has win everyone on the field with his old bike. Hope kawi makes that shit moto finally works and people like u finally can stfu and watch prado win in usa…. “He should go back home” but then he comes in a 250 ktm and smokes everyone on redbud, what u gotta say about that?

He's not good enough and never has been. Euros don't want to admit this but the MXGP riders always have an unfair advantage at MXON because of what they are allowed to do to their bikes. Their rules allow for a lot more aftermarket changes, particularly the swingarm.

Prado is on equal equipment now and he's on much wider tracks that he can't just get a holeshot and block/cross jump people to stay in the lead. 

16
9
dirtcan
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Sherbrooke, QC CA
7/20/2025 7:48am Edited Date/Time 7/20/2025 7:49am

It's the change from a 16-man gate to a 40-man gate. 

This could be part of it. Finish mid-pack in the gp’s because he’s not feeling it and it’s a 6-10th finish. Finish mid pack in the us because he’s not feeling it and it’s 15-20th.


The guys he used to race in the gp’s must be scratching their head pretty good too at the moment when they look at his results.

11
Kenny Banyan
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Seattle, WA US
7/20/2025 7:56am

It's the change from a 16-man gate to a 40-man gate. 

That’s actually a really good point…..👍🏻💯

2
motomike137
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Fenton, MI US
7/20/2025 7:58am

He's obviously trying to get out of the contract at this point. He should have the balls to let Kawasaki off the hook and leave.

10
2
Kenny Banyan
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Seattle, WA US
7/20/2025 8:12am

He's obviously trying to get out of the contract at this point. He should have the balls to let Kawasaki off the hook and leave.

Ya know, it’s so bizarre that I think you could very well be right.👍🏻💯

7
1
7/20/2025 8:24am Edited Date/Time 7/20/2025 9:07am

 

He came in thinking he was going to battle jett outdoors (gypsey interview)and quickly found out competition is no joke here. And SX is going to be more frustrating for him .

 He had it all in europe . Decides to come over and it bit him in the arse.  At this point the bike is not the issue, team is giving him all he wants and he is not improving but actually getting worse ,  

23
1
7/20/2025 8:32am
Yesterday was sad seeing it in person. He looked like he was trail riding at times in the second moto. Saw him looking over his shoulder...

Yesterday was sad seeing it in person. He looked like he was trail riding at times in the second moto. Saw him looking over his shoulder several times mid-moto when sitting mid-pack. Not a good look. I was excited for his arrival this year…but hard to watch this. Hope it doesn’t deter more Euro’s from coming in the future.

A few posters here that have been at the races have said the same thing that it looks like he is not even trying . Just cruising around once he gets passed by the top guys. 

1
7/20/2025 8:37am

It's the change from a 16-man gate to a 40-man gate. 

dirtcan wrote:
This could be part of it. Finish mid-pack in the gp’s because he’s not feeling it and it’s a 6-10th finish. Finish mid pack in the...

This could be part of it. Finish mid-pack in the gp’s because he’s not feeling it and it’s a 6-10th finish. Finish mid pack in the us because he’s not feeling it and it’s 15-20th.


The guys he used to race in the gp’s must be scratching their head pretty good too at the moment when they look at his results.

I think your rt on that .  If the bike is that bad just do a 4 lap spirit then lap 5 start hitting the kill switch & pull off.  It makes both parties look better.  America is a tough country the truckers run 23-60 hrs straight ovr 120 countries of men here  . And there blown away how hard we push here. Worlds strongest hhg rig with ever world record. We worked in hurricanes in Florida. We hv tough people here 

6
3
Spike33
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Malibu, CA US
7/20/2025 8:38am

It's the change from a 16-man gate to a 40-man gate. 

dirtcan wrote:
This could be part of it. Finish mid-pack in the gp’s because he’s not feeling it and it’s a 6-10th finish. Finish mid pack in the...

This could be part of it. Finish mid-pack in the gp’s because he’s not feeling it and it’s a 6-10th finish. Finish mid pack in the us because he’s not feeling it and it’s 15-20th.


The guys he used to race in the gp’s must be scratching their head pretty good too at the moment when they look at his results.

I think your rt on that .  If the bike is that bad just do a 4 lap spirit then lap 5 start hitting the kill...

I think your rt on that .  If the bike is that bad just do a 4 lap spirit then lap 5 start hitting the kill switch & pull off.  It makes both parties look better.  America is a tough country the truckers run 23-60 hrs straight ovr 120 countries of men here  . And there blown away how hard we push here. Worlds strongest hhg rig with ever world record. We worked in hurricanes in Florida. We hv tough people here 

Exactly. / thread. 

2
PRM31
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Northern, VA US
Fantasy
7/20/2025 8:43am

There is no way it is simply power. His starts have been good enough o indicate it’s not that much down, if at all. I great rider on a 250 would be getting better finishes than Jorge. 
Perhaps there is something suspension or chassis related Kawi isn’t giving him. Even that does not explain his finishes. A privateer on a Kawi beat him. 
This is in him, not the bike. Blunt answers work both ways.

8
yardsailor
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Nerstrand, MN US
7/20/2025 8:46am

Everyone is replaceable. 

 

2
aees
Posts
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8/20/2015
Location
US
7/20/2025 8:56am
His “the bike sucks!” routine is old news and it’s becoming more and more apparent that he just can’t hang in US motocross. The things he...

His “the bike sucks!” routine is old news and it’s becoming more and more apparent that he just can’t hang in US motocross. The things he said in that latest interview certainly don’t match any of his performances this year. If I were him, I’d keep my mouth closed about the bike ,because it’s to the point now, where he looks kinda dumb. There are privateers that would love to be on that bike working with a high level team. Maybe he should think about going back home and I wouldn’t be surprised if he did just that after the season is over.

Ayren wrote:
No man, you can’t say he is not good enought. He has win everyone on the field with his old bike. Hope kawi makes that shit...

No man, you can’t say he is not good enought. He has win everyone on the field with his old bike. Hope kawi makes that shit moto finally works and people like u finally can stfu and watch prado win in usa…. “He should go back home” but then he comes in a 250 ktm and smokes everyone on redbud, what u gotta say about that?

He's not good enough and never has been. Euros don't want to admit this but the MXGP riders always have an unfair advantage at MXON because...

He's not good enough and never has been. Euros don't want to admit this but the MXGP riders always have an unfair advantage at MXON because of what they are allowed to do to their bikes. Their rules allow for a lot more aftermarket changes, particularly the swingarm.

Prado is on equal equipment now and he's on much wider tracks that he can't just get a holeshot and block/cross jump people to stay in the lead. 

Herlings came over, went from last to first on a US spec bike on a US track, without basically any preparation. Thats the last top rider on same brand thats available as a reference.

Viałle had the choice to run his MXGP bike for MXoN last year. He chose to stay on the AMA bike. If it was that big advantage he would have switched.

US have different fuel regulations here, so bike is more responsive according to riders who get to run US fuel spec compared to FIM. FIM has lower sound spec which limits tuning of bikes. You can use titanium axles I AMA but not in GP. They got more power out of the 109db KTM than the 112. It's a give or take.

I think the bike is so different argument is old. It was different before but production bikes are to good now a days.

Lewis said in the interview that one of the current MXGP kawi riders told him that If Prado is expecting power as in his KTM, it's game over. Not possible. And that is from a factory team that have NO LIMITATIONS in what they can do in terms of engine build.

Im not hopeful since it doesn't seem to be close. Maybe Prado is sensitive to bike setup, or he is just pissed he was promised something which they are now not able to deliver.

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1
Indy mxer
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1822
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The Villages, FL US
7/20/2025 9:00am Edited Date/Time 7/20/2025 9:04am
kawasa84 wrote:
Too many people sticking up for "George's" poor performance and some get it about him. He clearly doesn't possess the fitness and speed needed to run...

Too many people sticking up for "George's" poor performance and some get it about him. He clearly doesn't possess the fitness and speed needed to run at the front in the US. He also doesn't have the heart and desire and competitiveness in him to drive himself when he's not feeling it as he's getting passed.

I've tried to give him the benefit of the doubt for many many of the races and moto after moto this year. I've read the excuses that some on here repeatedly make for him. 

But I finally admit I can't be on the fence on him any longer. Even if there are issues where he isn't comfortable on the bike, his spirit to fight isn't there. Maybe he returns to the MXGP's and can find success again, but he will never find it here in the US. I was initially very excited Kawasakin signed him. Now, I just want this over. There may  be a splash here and there of a top 5 ride here, but mark my words, Prado will never win, and never be a champion in the US. And when he starts getting passed by privateers and riders who come out of retirement, he shows he a fuckin wussie!!

100%. I too was excited when they signed him, especially being a Kawi guy myself. But I'm over his whining about the bike and total lack of effort. According to reports, Kawasaki is busting their asses to make him happy. He could at least pass someone intead of getting passed. He may be too soft to hang with the fast guys here.

Running 20th most of the second moto and finishing 19th is totally unacceptable on a factory bike! Hell, Harrison finished 10th on a privateer Kawi. I guess the bike ain't so bad. Hoping Sexton comes over to team green.

6
1
7/20/2025 9:10am

Unpopular but maybe obvious opinion: Even if the bike was "perfect" for him, he's just not as fast as Jett and Hunter and therefore it will always be the bike's fault. 

17
2
justkyle
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8/15/2023
Location
Tacoma, WA US
7/20/2025 9:12am
Yesterday was sad seeing it in person. He looked like he was trail riding at times in the second moto. Saw him looking over his shoulder...

Yesterday was sad seeing it in person. He looked like he was trail riding at times in the second moto. Saw him looking over his shoulder several times mid-moto when sitting mid-pack. Not a good look. I was excited for his arrival this year…but hard to watch this. Hope it doesn’t deter more Euro’s from coming in the future.

Watching him was mind boggling. Even the privateer who was in 40th and two laps down would charge through the section in front of us. 

You could tell that he wasn’t even trying just by the sound of his bike. We were in the section with the bowl turn before going into the trees before the whoops.  It sounded like he was just coasting around at 50% throttle.  It was very noticeable that he gave up and wasn’t  even pushing. 

4

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