Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
@ML512 does the release from Kawi include a release from his Monster contract, too, or are they still working that one?
Sounds like a stripper or two in my past. 😂
If Eli went to Kawi, that would leave an opening at KTM for Prado.
He's going back to Kawi, Kawi, Kawi
He's going back to Kawi... hmm, I don't think so.
The Shop
Free shipping: VITALMX
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
Eli and Prado are already both riding a KTM next year.
I don't think he will either, that's why I said "If"!
In most business settings, the terms of the deal and what really happened are not public. Say the least, wish each other well publicly and move on. We are fortunate enough to have insiders (including Prado himself) actually come forward on social media on their issues.
Despite being a 2x world champ, I don’t think he will just snap back to winning form after a year of struggling and his competition advancing. Especially in the US, SX, and these weird problems Sexton and Vialle were having.
Prado is a 4X world Champ
That would be confusing.
You have misunderstood my point, i did not compare the situations and i agree they are not the same. Tomac didn't behave like a dick like Prado has.
My point was that there is precedent of Kawasaki not being flexible/open enough. Just because they themselves think that they have worked hard and done everything doesn't mean that they could've done more.
Where did $2m + for Prado's contract with Kawi come from?
Seems excessive
There is a alot of dumb shit in this thread. Let's look at facts. Multi time world champ on big bikes and little bikes. Never really an ailment when it comes to riding. Gets on the kawi and definitely has struggles. Most definitely blames the bike and team for results and struggles associated. But. Had never been this way before.....proving innocence or guilt based on the situatio7n? I lean toward innocence based on track record. Could be wrong but man if there was ever an argument for you're only as good as your last race this is it. I worked with him but it was years ago when he was a kid. He was picky about the setup. Good or bad he had clear idea of what he wanted. The team needs to facilitate that. Did they? Did they not? Whole truth probably won't come out. Truth is, you dont ever luck into multiple championships in any discipline and he has those. Not one, not two, not three, but 4. Guy can ride. As a former rider and a team mechanic it's not anyone's fault. Shit happens, didn't work out for anyone but to want to hang the guy seems incredibly excessive.
I think we havent seen the real Jorge.
Just imagine if he rode at his max and it results in a lot of crashes: -was that all he had!? -Then he sucks because the bike is of course perfect, its factory!
Now, ”rolling around” showing just enough determination to grab some holeshots and holding on whiteknuckled for a couple laps, no one have yet seen his true capability in the nationals.
Now on a steel frame, will he win? No but the difference should be obvious to anyone.
Will Eli struggle on the KTM? Time will tell.
I hope (US) KTM solve whatever suspension issues there is, imagine Eli ”rolling around” to not kill himself…
Exactly. Whatever you think about him, he is betting on himself in this situation (walking away from a multi million contract) and you should have some respect for that. I've personally seen him ride since he was on 85s, dominating in his first year on the 125, making big steps on the 250 and becoming a multiple times World Champion. He had to fight for those titles. Especially the MXGP ones against Herlings and Gajser, two of the biggest names in our sport the past 10+ years. As a dirtbike fan I hope he turns things around.
Personally I've never met him. Probably never will. I don't know how he treated his mechanics and other Kawasaki team members, but in Europe I don't know him as an arrogant person
I think everyone has forgotten he does have the pace to run top 5.
Absolute shambles but I wish his well wherever he ends up.
I loved Kawi's press release....a pic of Prada "walking away"......that was no accident.
Absolutely, but publicly throwing his team and coworkers under the bus was shitty. He purposely tried not to qualify for a race and stated his bike/team was inferior/unsafe, not cool at all.
That’s fair. I just feel the large majority of the criticism for Prado comes from his attitude through this whole situation. It’s all comes across as very unprofessional. But yeah, maybe Kawasaki has to look in the mirror a bit themselves here.
Pit Row
agreed. He can hate the bike and that's fair. But to roll around and deliberately try to not qualify is next level BS. Could Kawi have done things differently/better? Perhaps. Does it any way excuse Jorge's behavior? No way.
You know,
Somewhere on here is a thread about "what bike have you rode once and hated so much you sold it?" Now imagine being required to ride that bike.
It was a tough scenario all around. Kawasaki doesn't exactly have the reputation for being accommodating to their riders. Prado may have felt absolutely trapped, without any hope of making things better for three years. Even so, he should have had a shit fit behind the scenes but been a consummate pro in public.
You're looking at select facts. Other facts of interest:
He had shoulder problems in 2019, 2024, and now 2025.
He initially had high praise for the Kawasaki, and he made a point of directly comparing it to the GG which wasn't at all favorable to the Austrians.
His MO is getting the start and riding a wide bike. That exposes you to more risk, bad enough in MXGP but in SX it's much worse as it entails cross jumping.
When you combine these additional facts in, the narrative isn't so black and white. It isn't as obvious how well his MXGP skills cross over to SX, whether he has significant reoccurring health issues, or what level of gratitude he's shown past employers.
Jason jokes he had “the fast one.” Well, there’s your problem right there! 🤣
At the end of the day though, Jorge chose to sign the contract after riding the bike...
Here we go:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPo2A6CkpWN/?igsh=MXN2NGRmaXc1c2p6YQ==
From what I've gathered on this forum is that he signed a $3 mil 3 year contract (base ?), so I would assume he got $1mil a year. That seems valid to me for a 2x world champ on the big bikes (4x including MX2) considering Jett is supposedly making about $2mil a year on his new contract
visor isn't quite long enough
Still in Fox gear?
usually using equipment from the old team, until signing the next contract... Craig did this these days, erasing helmet mounts
Did Fox have a problem with him?
Post a reply to: Prado drama continuing?