The Prado Mystery

Press516
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Gilbert, AZ US
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7/21/2025 2:15pm

It was said all the way back on page 1...  I think these rides from Jorge are an effort to cut the contract and get out of dodge as quickly as he can.

That video where he says he was doing all he can, I'd love to see an analysis from a body language expert.  I think he's not being honest...

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1
7/21/2025 2:27pm

Well Chad said the bike was very fast when he tried it at club

 

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kopfjaeger
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7/21/2025 2:59pm
CPR wrote:
Wasn’t Prado’s test on the Kawi SX bike at a SX track? If so, then of course he’d have no idea how their outdoor bike was...

Wasn’t Prado’s test on the Kawi SX bike at a SX track? If so, then of course he’d have no idea how their outdoor bike was at that stage. 

If I had to guess what’s currently going on, I’d say he feels totally uncomfortable on the bike and is not willing to push it until he feels better. The starts are improving, but after a few laps he can’t sustain a competitive pace and it looks like he just gives up.

The only reason I can think of for why Kawi hasn’t told him to “shut the fuck up”, is that they know they’re not delivering on their end of the bargain. But then again neither is Prado. Shit look all round and I hope they sort it out on both ends.

Do you guys recall Eli saying the Kawi guys would not do what he wanted to make the bike work how he wanted? Or at least that was conveyed in an article/interview after he went to Star and looked like a champ again

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NateDawg241
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7/21/2025 3:08pm
Shredder wrote:
Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup...

Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup services to both Prado and Kawi. Be interesting to see if they take him up on it. 

Matthes literally confirmed the exact opposite of what you're saying so idk where you're getting your information. Reed was blown away by how fast the bike is

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4

The Shop

Herr Lich
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7/21/2025 3:17pm
mx691 wrote:
Surely not the reason for Prados lack of performance, but i think his handlebars look a couple inches (!) wider than Jetts and for sure Elis...

Surely not the reason for Prados lack of performance, but i think his handlebars look a couple inches (!) wider than Jetts and for sure Elis look supernarrow.

Im sure he knows how he like them…?

Am i right or is it a illusion?

Sometimes i think he looks like a little boy riding his dads 500. 🙃

I agree, he looks horrible. The bike looks long also. 

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soggy
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7/21/2025 3:20pm
I don't think they still make it which is why I said "old", but a factory team with resources like that could pull a set off...

I don't think they still make it which is why I said "old", but a factory team with resources like that could pull a set off the shelves and get to work considering the big money they are paying George.

soggy wrote:
I don’t know that any factory riders liked that fork when it came out let alone now. The Showa and WP forks are pretty different. It sounds...

I don’t know that any factory riders liked that fork when it came out let alone now. The Showa and WP forks are pretty different. 

It sounds like there is some politics at play leading to him not being able to try different suspension. (Via Matthes and Phil on pulp show from 7/15). 

Factory teams don’t operate with a blank check either and a lot of parts are budgeted at the beginning of the year. Which is why you test to decide what you like and what you need extras of. 

Remember a few years ago roczen was wanting a bfrc shock on his Honda. But Honda didnt have any because they didn’t order them based on pre- season testing of Ken preferring the standard shock. 

This just goes to show you how cool it was for KTM to go out of their way and give Chase what he was asking for.....if...

This just goes to show you how cool it was for KTM to go out of their way and give Chase what he was asking for.....if Prado is that adamant about trying different equipment and I'm Kawi spending milions, I'm doing whatever I can to deliver what Prado is asking for.  And if results don't improve, he's out.  Save the money for Chase.

Yea coop and chase kind of forced KTM’s hand. Coop just showed up with his own stuff one weekend. (He was then off the ktm team entirely shortly after that).  Chase was in the title fight that year and kind of forced their hand. 

Kawi and the Japanese in particular(remember the old blue pig Yamaha days?) have shown an unwillingness to be flexible.  It’s their right to do what they want with their bike, but I’m in the camp of every rider is different so what works for one won’t for the other and you need to be flexible. Kawi hasn’t been that way historically. 

The outlier on the Japanese side is Honda. Lars has admitted that Dazzy and the Lawrence’s have a lot of influence on the bike set up. Which he admits is pretty out of the ordinary for Factory Honda. 

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sandman768
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Saratoga Springs, NY US
7/21/2025 3:30pm

Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some grease on the threads to aid in flex characteristics…

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7/21/2025 3:33pm
JDub067 wrote:

I know DV12 has plenty happening after the unfortunate incident with his mothers house in France, but I would love to hear his opinion on this 

DV simply said he couldn't believe what he heard from Prado in the pre-race interview at Washougal...

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Indy mxer
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7/21/2025 3:33pm
I don't think they still make it which is why I said "old", but a factory team with resources like that could pull a set off...

I don't think they still make it which is why I said "old", but a factory team with resources like that could pull a set off the shelves and get to work considering the big money they are paying George.

soggy wrote:
I don’t know that any factory riders liked that fork when it came out let alone now. The Showa and WP forks are pretty different. It sounds...

I don’t know that any factory riders liked that fork when it came out let alone now. The Showa and WP forks are pretty different. 

It sounds like there is some politics at play leading to him not being able to try different suspension. (Via Matthes and Phil on pulp show from 7/15). 

Factory teams don’t operate with a blank check either and a lot of parts are budgeted at the beginning of the year. Which is why you test to decide what you like and what you need extras of. 

Remember a few years ago roczen was wanting a bfrc shock on his Honda. But Honda didnt have any because they didn’t order them based on pre- season testing of Ken preferring the standard shock. 

This just goes to show you how cool it was for KTM to go out of their way and give Chase what he was asking for.....if...

This just goes to show you how cool it was for KTM to go out of their way and give Chase what he was asking for.....if Prado is that adamant about trying different equipment and I'm Kawi spending milions, I'm doing whatever I can to deliver what Prado is asking for.  And if results don't improve, he's out.  Save the money for Chase.

Kawasaki may be doing the same thing. I'm sure for what they're paying him they're trying hard to make the bike work. 

Comparing him to Chase is apples and oranges. Even when Chase was struggling with the bike, he rode hard and didn't throw KTM under the bus in every interview. And he wasn't getting beat by privateers! 

5
Pop Shmoke
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Boston, MA US
7/21/2025 3:50pm
Problem solved...

Problem solved...

Prado - Kawi

Hey.. it worked for kenny at straight rythm lol

IMG 3260 2

 


Catanzaro too… who knew yellow ktms looked soooo good?

IMG 3261 2

IMG 3262 4.jpeg?VersionId=rEF1scfvQj .TOUvaoQq
 

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GrapeApe
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Mc Kinney, TX US
7/21/2025 3:56pm Edited Date/Time 7/21/2025 3:57pm
Problem solved...

Problem solved...

Prado - Kawi
Pop Shmoke wrote:
Hey.. it worked for kenny at straight rythm lol Catanzaro too… who knew yellow ktms looked soooo good? 

Hey.. it worked for kenny at straight rythm lol

IMG 3260 2

 


Catanzaro too… who knew yellow ktms looked soooo good?

IMG 3261 2

IMG 3262 4.jpeg?VersionId=rEF1scfvQj .TOUvaoQq
 

What does a Yamaha dressed up as a Yamaha have to do with a GasGas dressed up like a Kawasaki? Other than Ping didn't get thanked for either . . .

 

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Falcon
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Menifee, CA US
7/21/2025 4:13pm
Problem solved...

Problem solved...

Prado - Kawi

Nice Photoshop. What do you call that bike? A Kawas-gas? 

1
-MAVERICK-
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Ontario CA
7/21/2025 6:33pm

Down on power?

18
El_Rayo
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7/21/2025 6:39pm
Shredder wrote:
Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup...

Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup services to both Prado and Kawi. Be interesting to see if they take him up on it. 

Where did you get this info from? There’s like 2 podcasts out now (Pulp & Vitalmx) where they mentioned reed riding the bike , and saying “I don’t know how he holds onto that thing for 30 mins” because it was so fast.

14
7/21/2025 6:50pm
Shredder wrote:
Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup...

Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup services to both Prado and Kawi. Be interesting to see if they take him up on it. 

CPR wrote:
In Lewis’s post race interviews, Matthes said Reed had ridden the bike and was blown away by how fast it was. I’m assuming this would have...

In Lewis’s post race interviews, Matthes said Reed had ridden the bike and was blown away by how fast it was. I’m assuming this would have been the new engine package.

Everyone seems to be stuck on the power thing, but that appears to be old news. The handling thing could be true, who knows?

Old news to everyone but Prado who is still saying it’s too slow. 

1
1
Kenny Banyan
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Seattle, WA US
7/21/2025 6:50pm
mx691 wrote:
Surely not the reason for Prados lack of performance, but i think his handlebars look a couple inches (!) wider than Jetts and for sure Elis...

Surely not the reason for Prados lack of performance, but i think his handlebars look a couple inches (!) wider than Jetts and for sure Elis look supernarrow.

Im sure he knows how he like them…?

Am i right or is it a illusion?

Sometimes i think he looks like a little boy riding his dads 500. 🙃

See if you can find some pics…… That’s a point no one has brought up. I’m interested in looking at what your talking about.💯👍🏻

mx691 wrote:

Dunno… Maybe ML can sneak out the tapemeasure

Hard to tell from looking at that.

8tensolutions
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7/21/2025 7:03pm
Shredder wrote:
Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup...

Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup services to both Prado and Kawi. Be interesting to see if they take him up on it. 

El_Rayo wrote:
Where did you get this info from? There’s like 2 podcasts out now (Pulp & Vitalmx) where they mentioned reed riding the bike , and saying...

Where did you get this info from? There’s like 2 podcasts out now (Pulp & Vitalmx) where they mentioned reed riding the bike , and saying “I don’t know how he holds onto that thing for 30 mins” because it was so fast.

Blair said on his pod someone with 2 titles rode the bike recently and said it was terrible.  Not slow, but just overall shitty.  They speculate that Prado cannot communicate what he wants so the bike is terrible.....but with Reed, Tickle, and maybe others how the hell is it possible for him to go backwards like a Honda Civic on an F1 track??

6
2
Kenny Banyan
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7/21/2025 7:12pm
Shredder wrote:
Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup...

Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup services to both Prado and Kawi. Be interesting to see if they take him up on it. 

El_Rayo wrote:
Where did you get this info from? There’s like 2 podcasts out now (Pulp & Vitalmx) where they mentioned reed riding the bike , and saying...

Where did you get this info from? There’s like 2 podcasts out now (Pulp & Vitalmx) where they mentioned reed riding the bike , and saying “I don’t know how he holds onto that thing for 30 mins” because it was so fast.

Blair said on his pod someone with 2 titles rode the bike recently and said it was terrible.  Not slow, but just overall shitty.  They speculate...

Blair said on his pod someone with 2 titles rode the bike recently and said it was terrible.  Not slow, but just overall shitty.  They speculate that Prado cannot communicate what he wants so the bike is terrible.....but with Reed, Tickle, and maybe others how the hell is it possible for him to go backwards like a Honda Civic on an F1 track??

He’s like Cole Trickle…. 

PRM31
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Northern, VA US
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7/21/2025 7:32pm

Why hasn't anyone mentioned an illness?

Because Jorge hasn’t mentioned that. 

3
8tensolutions
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7/21/2025 7:43pm
El_Rayo wrote:
Where did you get this info from? There’s like 2 podcasts out now (Pulp & Vitalmx) where they mentioned reed riding the bike , and saying...

Where did you get this info from? There’s like 2 podcasts out now (Pulp & Vitalmx) where they mentioned reed riding the bike , and saying “I don’t know how he holds onto that thing for 30 mins” because it was so fast.

Blair said on his pod someone with 2 titles rode the bike recently and said it was terrible.  Not slow, but just overall shitty.  They speculate...

Blair said on his pod someone with 2 titles rode the bike recently and said it was terrible.  Not slow, but just overall shitty.  They speculate that Prado cannot communicate what he wants so the bike is terrible.....but with Reed, Tickle, and maybe others how the hell is it possible for him to go backwards like a Honda Civic on an F1 track??

He’s like Cole Trickle…. 

Haha.  True

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7/21/2025 8:16pm
sandman768 wrote:
Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some...

Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some grease on the threads to aid in flex characteristics…

I like this 

1
1
LP31
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Noosa, QLD AU
7/21/2025 10:04pm

If I was Kawi Id sack him, he is terrible for the brand.

Tickle is 4 sec faster on the same bike.

Reed said the things a rocketship too.

Lewis said that Prado is not very good at setting up the bike in europe, had to get help with the Gas Gas originally.

Should of kept Anderson for next year with Chase.

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Motofinne
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FI
7/21/2025 10:17pm
LP31 wrote:
If I was Kawi Id sack him, he is terrible for the brand.Tickle is 4 sec faster on the same bike.Reed said the things a rocketship...

If I was Kawi Id sack him, he is terrible for the brand.

Tickle is 4 sec faster on the same bike.

Reed said the things a rocketship too.

Lewis said that Prado is not very good at setting up the bike in europe, had to get help with the Gas Gas originally.

Should of kept Anderson for next year with Chase.

Many riders are bad or at least average at setting the bike up. That is when the professionals at the Factory team enter the conversation and work together with the rider towards a setup that works better. It's literally the teams job.

Or do you think the countless of people under the green rig and back in Japan are just grips and graphics people?

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5
motomike137
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Fenton, MI US
7/21/2025 10:54pm Edited Date/Time 7/21/2025 10:56pm
sandman768 wrote:
Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some...

Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some grease on the threads to aid in flex characteristics…

That plus a tooth on the rear sprocket and he will smoke Jett next round.

1
2
7/21/2025 11:05pm
Problem solved...

Problem solved...

Prado - Kawi

That’s one of the best looking bikes I have ever seen. Green or gold wheels and it’s the best.

1
LP31
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Noosa, QLD AU
7/21/2025 11:31pm
LP31 wrote:
If I was Kawi Id sack him, he is terrible for the brand.Tickle is 4 sec faster on the same bike.Reed said the things a rocketship...

If I was Kawi Id sack him, he is terrible for the brand.

Tickle is 4 sec faster on the same bike.

Reed said the things a rocketship too.

Lewis said that Prado is not very good at setting up the bike in europe, had to get help with the Gas Gas originally.

Should of kept Anderson for next year with Chase.

Motofinne wrote:
Many riders are bad or at least average at setting the bike up. That is when the professionals at the Factory team enter the conversation and...

Many riders are bad or at least average at setting the bike up. That is when the professionals at the Factory team enter the conversation and work together with the rider towards a setup that works better. It's literally the teams job.

Or do you think the countless of people under the green rig and back in Japan are just grips and graphics people?

No Oscar is awesome and worked  with Reedy for years and is one of the best.

Prado has lost the plot and given up.

Throwing everyone under the bus too.

 

3
Mavetism
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Hannover DE
7/22/2025 2:12am
sandman768 wrote:
Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some...

Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some grease on the threads to aid in flex characteristics…

That plus a tooth on the rear sprocket and he will smoke Jett next round.

Will it be good enough for Jeremy Hand though? 

4
CPR
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Location
AU
7/22/2025 2:24am
Shredder wrote:
Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup...

Supposedly Reed rode his bike at Club MX and said it was the slowest and worst handling factory bike he ever rode and offered his setup services to both Prado and Kawi. Be interesting to see if they take him up on it. 

CPR wrote:
In Lewis’s post race interviews, Matthes said Reed had ridden the bike and was blown away by how fast it was. I’m assuming this would have...

In Lewis’s post race interviews, Matthes said Reed had ridden the bike and was blown away by how fast it was. I’m assuming this would have been the new engine package.

Everyone seems to be stuck on the power thing, but that appears to be old news. The handling thing could be true, who knows?

Old news to everyone but Prado who is still saying it’s too slow. 

Has he said that recently, as in the last week? I’d like to hear it.

Kenny Banyan
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Seattle, WA US
7/22/2025 5:36am
sandman768 wrote:
Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some...

Not sure if this has been mentioned…. But…. Prado is just a set of  hogged out engine hangers and Ti bolts away from greatness…..maybe even some grease on the threads to aid in flex characteristics…

That plus a tooth on the rear sprocket and he will smoke Jett next round.

Maybe he just needs a new Flux Capacitor……?

3
1

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