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Prado will show Webb who‘s the fast Vince Friese will be.
Did you see him on the SLC broadcast and how much he's was limping just walking? When I saw that I was like, "Fuuuck!"
I busted my ankle up riding, and limp like a mofo depending on the day and situation.
But once I put a moto boot on I’m as good as I never was lol I also am not doing the tippy toed ballerina moves he is doing either on the bike.
If he had been sitting for a long while it can get stiff and maybe cause that, or maybe that is just his new normal never know.
Just giving my experience with a bad ankle makeover.
French publication Moto Verte asked some notable French figures what their thoughts were on Prado winning the title.
FRED VIALLE, Tom's father and former top 125cc World Championship rider:
"Prado, first of all, I wanted to emphasize that he really surprised me in Supercross. For his first real season, two podiums, good lap times, heat wins, that's good. Now, outdoor is different. I don't think he'll be in contention for the title. However, I imagine him getting podiums, maybe even winning a race, but not the championship. With the Lawrence brothers, Chase Sexton, Eli Tomac, and Justin Cooper, that's some very strong competition. Last year in Pro Motocross, he never rode at such a high intensity; he hasn't experienced that very high pace yet. He's regained a good feeling with the KTM, but in the US, he doesn't have the same bike he rode in MXGP. He'll be in the mix, maybe even better than his teammate Tomac, but it still seems a bit close to being able to fight for the overall victory."
NICOLAS AUBIN, former GP rider and coach of Sleny Goyer:
“Under normal circumstances, if there are no injuries, I don’t see Prado becoming outdoor champion this year. He’s regained his mental strength and performed well in Supercross, but once again, we saw that his results were really influenced by his starts. In Motocross, he should be getting holeshots again, but then the competition will be fierce. In MXGP, on most European tracks, when you get a good start, it makes things easier. You close the door and you can go all the way when you’re a rider of his caliber. In the US, it’s not the same. There are more tracks, more ruts, the circuits are more open. And the guys are more aggressive! Lately, he hasn’t exactly made many friends; nobody’s going to give him anything for free. He might win some motos, get some podium finishes, but for me, he’s still below Jett and Hunter.” If Sexton is at 100%, I think he's stronger than Prado, and the same goes for Tomac. Now, the Spaniard has improved a lot; he's definitely gained in technique and intensity thanks to Supercross. We'll see, it could be a great championship!
YANNIG KERVELLA, MXecoaching:
“Prado is a real star; you're not a four-time world champion for nothing. I often see him training on the MX tracks in California, and he works incredibly hard. He's found a bike he likes and knows well. His failed stint with Kawasaki is forgotten, thrown in the trash. In my opinion, in the outdoor series, he should be able to win motos and compete for podium finishes. But with Jett Lawrence's return after spending several months watching SX races on TV, it's going to be tough to contend for the title! I also think a rider like Tomac will be there, not to mention all the others. Prado will get good starts, as always; in my opinion, he'll be a regular in the top 5. He's improved a lot in SX, which is a good sign; it always brings interesting things to MX riding. He's going to be a tough competitor, and a hard one to beat—just ask Cooper Webb!” He'll be one of the main attractions of Pro Motocross, it'll be great to watch, but the title is another story!
CÉDRIC SOUBEYRAS, multiple French SX Tour champion:
“Prado will achieve great things, but I don’t believe for a second that he can compete for the title. In my opinion, his riding style isn’t well-suited to the demands of the US Outdoor series. He’s certainly very technical, he gets good starts… But in US motocross, you have to assert yourself, use your strength, and be very aggressive. I find it hard to believe he can do that over an eleven-race championship. For me, Jett and Hunter Lawrence will be ahead of him, Sexton too, Tomac as well… And then we mustn’t forget that Haiden Deegan is preparing his move up to the 450 class. And he too, in my opinion, will be stronger than Prado! The KTM rider will be at the front, will be in the top five more often than last year. But to actually compete for the title, that doesn’t seem possible to me!”
ERIC SORBY, coach of Sorby Academy USA:
“Being Pro Motocross champion seems unlikely this year! Last year, he had a disastrous season for a rider of his caliber. As a result, he didn't really have time to adapt to the outdoor track. He spent all his time arguing with his team and his bike; I don't think there was anything positive about it, and all his weekends were very difficult for him. This year, the speed will be there, I have no doubt. He's shown some great things in Supercross. I think he has the potential to win races and motos. But competing for the title is another story. The US championship is very demanding; there's little practice to get a feel for the tracks, you have to manage the heat… And then there's the competition. I mentioned Jett, but we mustn't forget Hunter, Tomac, Sexton, and I'm also eager to see Deegan, who can be a real threat!” »
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From my observations in Spain on a heavily rutted track where he dominated, I am expecting Hi Point to be a place where these skills shine. And of course Southwick where he did his best las year on a bike he hated.
Pala has a bunch of "Saddleback specialists" where certain folks go way faster than at other tracks because they practice there more than most racers. So I don't expect Prado will be on the box there, but also wouldn't be surprised.
I had no idea European riding coaches speak with so many exclamation points. They sure are excited about Prado failing.
You know Italians, always speaking with their hands!!! /S
While I realize he’s an MXGP champ and he’s had plenty of “outdoor success”…
I have to ask myslef of I see him running up front against Eli, The Lawrence Racing Group, The Coopers and a Chase that seems to be pulling things together and “just riding the bike”…?
Nope. I’m not seeing it.
He’s learned to CRUSH THE WHOOPS in SX. He’s retained his holeshot capability. He rides really, really well. But, do I…do most of us see him crushing laps at 30+ minutes into a moto?
I don’t. Not yet.
HOWEVER! As the National mature and we get into July…? I could see him progressing and making 30+ minute Motos work for him…eventually. By the time we get to Red Bud, I won’t be surprised if those “Magic Jorge lines” started reappearing and he starts laying down some insane laps late in the motos.
I guess we'll see.
Signed,
A Jorge fan.
So an outdoor series we’re thinking Prado will podium? Bold take, we got Jett, Hunter, Tomac, Sexton, Justin Cooper, Plessinger and Wildcard Deegan and we’re thinking he’s going to podium? Dam people really think that KTM is a cure all for him.
He’s going to outstart all of them more often than not. He out qualified them all a few times and won heat races in supercross. I have to imagine he’s faster outdoors than indoors.
So yeah podiums seem pretty likely for an outdoor specialist who can holeshot on a moped.
You can tell some people here have only seen him last year for the first time and based on that I can't even blame him if they give these kind of predictions. There is gonna be a lot of surprised people here, that's for sure.
I’m wrong about the south coast?
I'm not sure what he'll do outdoors but here's a bold prediction. In 4-5 years he'll be known as a SX specialist rather than outdoor specialist. I feel like SX suits him better once he really figures it out. He's good at Euro MX but I don't think his style suits the US outdoor circuit very well. Kind of similar to Vialle. Maybe I'm wrong.
Pretty bold take but I see what you mean for sure!
Honestly not even a bad take/thought process. You can tell Vialle for example looks much better on GP tracks again with the slower style specially on more narrow tracks. Not everyone is comfortable going all out for 30+2. Prado riding the wide bike also won't help him much on weekends where he isn't up to his best speed on US tracks. Though he undeniable will be a complete different rider compared to last year on the KTM and without having two injuries before the season. We'll see where he slots in.
Well now we know for sure. Last year, Prado went 7-6 for 6th overall at Pala. This year, a very strong 2-2 for second overall, and only 6 points from the red plate. It’s clear the change of teams worked for him.
Pit Row
Instead of eating crow, some have already deleted their own posts here...
Last year after Hangtown he had 5 more points on the board last year than he does this year. The comment that it is clear that the change of teams worked for him didn’t age well. Seriously, though, what happened in the second moto yesterday? I know they blew up the engine in the first moto, but what happened in the second?
The mechanical definitely explains the points difference between this year and last. As for moto 2, good question, I haven’t heard anything yet but I know his starts suffered due to having last gate pick.
He never got a podium on the Kawasaki but it was the first thing he did in SX and MX with KTM.
Last moto he passed more riders than anyone else, from 32nd to 13th.
Ian said he started around 32nd due to a bad gate pick from the DNF. Best he could muster was 13th or something along those lines.
If you consider that his bike let him down in 1 of 4 motos so far this summer (and he’s accumulated fewer points on tracks he’s more familiar with) I think it is a stretch to claim that his chances of winning a title this summer on the KTM are any better than they were last summer.
Chase got up off the ground on the same track and went from last to first. George never fell and could only manage 13th after a whole outdoor moto. I guess holeshot and block might be the only way he can hang here in SMX. He’s a great rider, for sure, but he’s not much when it comes to overcoming adversity, and he’s got nothing for the Lawrences.
I never talked about winning the tite. He`s finally getting podiums again which he never got on the green bike.
Chase went from last to first? Which race?!
You’re pretty funny. Who did Prado “block” at Pala?
Maybe put the spreadsheets aside for a minute and just watch them ride? Prado looks worse on the ktm, chase looks better on the kawi right?
2024 Hangtown.
He didn’t. That’s my point. The only way he can run at the front here is to holeshot and block. He’s not capable of coming from behind to the front here in the US, or if he is, he hasn’t done it yet.
That’s your point? I’ll let someone else explain how that doesn’t make sense based on his performance at Fox Raceway just last week.
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