Prado - Post High Point

PRM31
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6/21/2026 6:19pm

I thought his post-race interview was very straightforward. He said he needs to improve his pace and ultimately confidence. 
He is now dealing with what all US nationals riders do and that is riding SX for 7-8 months out of the year and still trying to be as good in MX. I think his move East will help his MX race prep. Not sure he’ll challenge the top 3 with regularity, but on occasion would not surprise me.

 

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Park Boys
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6/21/2026 6:36pm
Park Boys wrote:

The biggest let down of the year so far. He has yet to look like 2024 Prado. 

jps256 wrote:

Sexton is the biggest let down

I would agree but I feel like we all saw this coming and then the Kawi took him out with injury. I should have said for the guys still racing. 

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Park Boys
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6/21/2026 6:42pm

I will say this for Prado which is why I feel like this year is has been such a letdown was his 24 MXGP championship was as impressive as it gets. In 23 there was plenty of Gajser wasn’t there and Herlings got hurt. But his 2024 MXGP title has one of the most impressive top 3 of any championship ever. 
1.Prado

2. Gajser 

3. Herlings 

The guys that finished 2nd and 3rd are all time riders and he beat them over a long series.  I understand his playbook of get the start and run away. He was very good at that. Perhaps if you swapped his starts with Gajsers the season would have been different but that’s all ifs and buts. 

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Not hillbilly
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6/21/2026 7:06pm

For some reason, it’s easy for some to forget Jorge finished 6th overall in Pro MX last year, despite the so-called “quitting.” I fully expect him to improve on that this year, maybe as high as 3rd overall, but 4th-5th, right now, seems more likely. And I think that would be a great result for him. He’ll definitely be the top KTM racer.

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The Shop

CPR
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6/21/2026 7:15pm

I think last year set him back both speed wise and mentally, and he’s having to build again. Simple as that.

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Madkiwi
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6/21/2026 7:33pm
CPR wrote:

I think last year set him back both speed wise and mentally, and he’s having to build again. Simple as that.

I never really thought about it like that until your comment, and I 100% agree with you.

When you're talking about mental toughness that lasts 1-5%, it must be hard to find and retain, let alone being more or less alone in a foreign country. I also think you US guys realise how hard it is to be away from home, friends, family food etc. Especially when things aren't goign quite right, let alone the shambles that was last year. When your talking mental toughness that last 1-5% must be hard to find and retain, let alone beign more or less alone in a foriegn country.

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Wo Phat
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6/21/2026 7:40pm
GBS wrote:

With out the Lawrence brothers, Prado and Deegan would be battling for the wins and they would both be hero's..

that would make Deeg's Dangerboyz happy....

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6/21/2026 9:51pm
Prado’s problem with the Kawasaki last year is the same as Chase’s problem this year.  He can’t beat the Lawrence brothers on it.  If Chase leaves...

Prado’s problem with the Kawasaki last year is the same as Chase’s problem this year.  He can’t beat the Lawrence brothers on it.  If Chase leaves, he’ll be in the same boat as Prado next year.  Still getting beat by the Lawrences, but without the 7 figure paycheck.

crusty_xx wrote:

So what happened indoors? Hunter didn't win until round 7. Chase was still only the 5-6th best guy out there. Jett wasn't even there

Chase won two races. That’s 1 more than the defending champ who was on the same bike he raced in 2025.  Supercross is hard. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Fair enough. Last year he won 7 tho

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6/21/2026 11:50pm
GBS wrote:

With out the Lawrence brothers, Prado and Deegan would be battling for the wins and they would both be hero's..

With no other riders there, I would be taking the wins and be a hero… so what’s your point?

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NVA57
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6/22/2026 12:39am Edited Date/Time 6/22/2026 12:44am
Mavetism wrote:
I'd say this one here was probably one of the best rides I've seen from him. I do think his ceiling is good enough to win...

I'd say this one here was probably one of the best rides I've seen from him. I do think his ceiling is good enough to win races vs the current Lawrences but even the best version of Prado doesn't beat them in a championship I think. Talent and skill wise he should be up there with Deegan and battle for third at least every weekend though.

The thing with Prado is.. I think he is very mentally driven and everything has to be aligned for him. When he knows he isn't battling for wins it seems like he sometimes just rides around, like he has zero confidence that weekend compared to like Haiden for example who charges forward no matter what. He did this in his early MXGP 450 years and in SX aswell.

In his 2018/2019 Mx2 he was so good (almost perfect season in 2019) that everyone expected him to immediately battle for the title when he moved up and he wasn't bad in his rookie year. But pretty much like what we have seen in SX for example. When he was on he had winning speed and could win on any day but on the other weekend he could ride around in 10-15th and nobody knew what was going on. Than he got Covid, had to retire from the season and he really wasn't the same for over a year.

2021 and 2022 were pretty much the same tho. Holeshots, winning speed on some weekends, way outside the top 5th a week later.

In 2023 and 2024 everything clicked. A holeshot was pretty much a moto win from him and he was gone after the first 2-3 turns. 2024 it also didn't matter where he started, he had so much more speed than anyone that he just blew by people most races. Specially 2024 is why everyone had high hopes for Prado actually being a challenge for Jett, he basically looked like Lucas does now.

I sometimes ask myself if he regrets his decision to move to the US (obviously he regrets signing with Kawasaki, no doubt about that), specially now with Lucas also coming over. In 2024 he had all the confidence in the world and definitely thought (and said) he could beat Jett. Now we basically have two Jetts out there with Hunter getting even better. and now Lucas and Deegan aswell? I wouldn't be surprised if we see more SX than MX wins from Prado in the future though.

 

Eh, I feel like your judgement of the 2024 season is a little cloudy. Yes, Jorge had some rides that were far better than what he's shown in 2023 (like Sweden and that first Spanish round). But it wasn't like "he had so much more speed" than Jeffrey and Tim. Tim was actually really close on winning the title in 2024, if not for his footpeg breaking off at the penultimate round. Jorge made 19 points on Tim that weekend, yet won the title with 10 points over. You could argue Tim could've won the title if not for that freak accident with only 4 motos to go. Tim also had the red plate still at that point.

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mx691
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6/22/2026 1:26am

First it was, staying healthy through SX to get going in the Nat’s…

Now it seems to be, staying healthy through the Nat’s to get going in SX…

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30minmotos
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6/22/2026 2:16am

I love how nobody believes Prado. He tells you what it is, and then we all go speculating. He told you what it was last year and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t the truth. And he’s telling you what it is this year.

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6/22/2026 2:25am
30minmotos wrote:
I love how nobody believes Prado. He tells you what it is, and then we all go speculating. He told you what it was last year...

I love how nobody believes Prado. He tells you what it is, and then we all go speculating. He told you what it was last year and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t the truth. And he’s telling you what it is this year.

I wanna believe him and I do think he'll get better. This is FAR from 2024 Prado.
But I'm still puzzled about things like dropping 4 seconds a lap after Deegan passed him for multiple laps. 

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winman
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Cumberland, MD US
6/22/2026 4:51am

George hasn't shown me anything!  Marchbanks might make him another victim very soon!  Only 2.5 seconds after 35 minutes!  I know its the Bike!  LOL

 

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9
6/22/2026 4:53am
crusty_xx wrote:
I wanna believe him and I do think he'll get better. This is FAR from 2024 Prado.But I'm still puzzled about things like dropping 4 seconds...

I wanna believe him and I do think he'll get better. This is FAR from 2024 Prado.
But I'm still puzzled about things like dropping 4 seconds a lap after Deegan passed him for multiple laps. 

I think he's frustrated/disheartened that he can't hang with the Lawrence bro's but probably sees himself as the next best guy, so whenever anyone else passes him the negativity gets in his head and he loses focus.

He's an incredibly gifted rider technically and you achieve what he has done without being exceptional, but I don't think he's ever really had the grit or balls-out style to win Outdoor championships in America.

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wrc777
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6/22/2026 4:54am
Mavetism wrote:
I'd say this one here was probably one of the best rides I've seen from him. I do think his ceiling is good enough to win...

I'd say this one here was probably one of the best rides I've seen from him. I do think his ceiling is good enough to win races vs the current Lawrences but even the best version of Prado doesn't beat them in a championship I think. Talent and skill wise he should be up there with Deegan and battle for third at least every weekend though.

The thing with Prado is.. I think he is very mentally driven and everything has to be aligned for him. When he knows he isn't battling for wins it seems like he sometimes just rides around, like he has zero confidence that weekend compared to like Haiden for example who charges forward no matter what. He did this in his early MXGP 450 years and in SX aswell.

In his 2018/2019 Mx2 he was so good (almost perfect season in 2019) that everyone expected him to immediately battle for the title when he moved up and he wasn't bad in his rookie year. But pretty much like what we have seen in SX for example. When he was on he had winning speed and could win on any day but on the other weekend he could ride around in 10-15th and nobody knew what was going on. Than he got Covid, had to retire from the season and he really wasn't the same for over a year.

2021 and 2022 were pretty much the same tho. Holeshots, winning speed on some weekends, way outside the top 5th a week later.

In 2023 and 2024 everything clicked. A holeshot was pretty much a moto win from him and he was gone after the first 2-3 turns. 2024 it also didn't matter where he started, he had so much more speed than anyone that he just blew by people most races. Specially 2024 is why everyone had high hopes for Prado actually being a challenge for Jett, he basically looked like Lucas does now.

I sometimes ask myself if he regrets his decision to move to the US (obviously he regrets signing with Kawasaki, no doubt about that), specially now with Lucas also coming over. In 2024 he had all the confidence in the world and definitely thought (and said) he could beat Jett. Now we basically have two Jetts out there with Hunter getting even better. and now Lucas and Deegan aswell? I wouldn't be surprised if we see more SX than MX wins from Prado in the future though.

 

NVA57 wrote:
Eh, I feel like your judgement of the 2024 season is a little cloudy. Yes, Jorge had some rides that were far better than what he's...

Eh, I feel like your judgement of the 2024 season is a little cloudy. Yes, Jorge had some rides that were far better than what he's shown in 2023 (like Sweden and that first Spanish round). But it wasn't like "he had so much more speed" than Jeffrey and Tim. Tim was actually really close on winning the title in 2024, if not for his footpeg breaking off at the penultimate round. Jorge made 19 points on Tim that weekend, yet won the title with 10 points over. You could argue Tim could've won the title if not for that freak accident with only 4 motos to go. Tim also had the red plate still at that point.

Prado also had mechanical issues in 2024 they were just earlier in the season. His seat fell off in one race.

1
6/22/2026 5:14am Edited Date/Time 6/22/2026 5:18am
30minmotos wrote:
I love how nobody believes Prado. He tells you what it is, and then we all go speculating. He told you what it was last year...

I love how nobody believes Prado. He tells you what it is, and then we all go speculating. He told you what it was last year and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t the truth. And he’s telling you what it is this year.

crusty_xx wrote:
I wanna believe him and I do think he'll get better. This is FAR from 2024 Prado.But I'm still puzzled about things like dropping 4 seconds...

I wanna believe him and I do think he'll get better. This is FAR from 2024 Prado.
But I'm still puzzled about things like dropping 4 seconds a lap after Deegan passed him for multiple laps. 

Fitness.  Even though he’s older, Prado lacks the “man strength” necessary to go 30 +2 WFO like Deegan can.  Deegan is still lacking the skills to match the Lawrences’ pace for a whole moto, but I’d argue there might not be anyone in the field (except maybe Chase) that is stronger and fitter than 38.  If Prado was strong enough to run 100% for an entire moto, I don’t think Deegan would get close to him yet.  38 is still refining his technique to reach his potential on 450s.  This is coming from someone who is not a fan of Deegan the character, but it’s hard not to be a fan of Deegan the racer.

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Not hillbilly
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6/22/2026 5:47am
30minmotos wrote:
I love how nobody believes Prado. He tells you what it is, and then we all go speculating. He told you what it was last year...

I love how nobody believes Prado. He tells you what it is, and then we all go speculating. He told you what it was last year and I’ll be damned if it wasn’t the truth. And he’s telling you what it is this year.

I agree with you on this. 

3
6/22/2026 5:52am
crusty_xx wrote:
I wanna believe him and I do think he'll get better. This is FAR from 2024 Prado.But I'm still puzzled about things like dropping 4 seconds...

I wanna believe him and I do think he'll get better. This is FAR from 2024 Prado.
But I'm still puzzled about things like dropping 4 seconds a lap after Deegan passed him for multiple laps. 

I think he's frustrated/disheartened that he can't hang with the Lawrence bro's but probably sees himself as the next best guy, so whenever anyone else passes...

I think he's frustrated/disheartened that he can't hang with the Lawrence bro's but probably sees himself as the next best guy, so whenever anyone else passes him the negativity gets in his head and he loses focus.

He's an incredibly gifted rider technically and you achieve what he has done without being exceptional, but I don't think he's ever really had the grit or balls-out style to win Outdoor championships in America.

That´s key, he needs to takes risks, get to the box a couple times and then have a sexton style slam and stay in the couch. Figure it out and comeback stronger. It took 5 seasons to Greg Albertyn to win the championship riding that way, he would not have win otherwise

1
6/22/2026 6:36am
That´s key, he needs to takes risks, get to the box a couple times and then have a sexton style slam and stay in the couch...

That´s key, he needs to takes risks, get to the box a couple times and then have a sexton style slam and stay in the couch. Figure it out and comeback stronger. It took 5 seasons to Greg Albertyn to win the championship riding that way, he would not have win otherwise

Albertyns superman seat grab to lazyboy no-hander lander through the rhythm lane in Orlando is still one of the best SX crashes ever. 

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NVA57
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Kralendijk BQ
6/22/2026 7:00am
Mavetism wrote:
I'd say this one here was probably one of the best rides I've seen from him. I do think his ceiling is good enough to win...

I'd say this one here was probably one of the best rides I've seen from him. I do think his ceiling is good enough to win races vs the current Lawrences but even the best version of Prado doesn't beat them in a championship I think. Talent and skill wise he should be up there with Deegan and battle for third at least every weekend though.

The thing with Prado is.. I think he is very mentally driven and everything has to be aligned for him. When he knows he isn't battling for wins it seems like he sometimes just rides around, like he has zero confidence that weekend compared to like Haiden for example who charges forward no matter what. He did this in his early MXGP 450 years and in SX aswell.

In his 2018/2019 Mx2 he was so good (almost perfect season in 2019) that everyone expected him to immediately battle for the title when he moved up and he wasn't bad in his rookie year. But pretty much like what we have seen in SX for example. When he was on he had winning speed and could win on any day but on the other weekend he could ride around in 10-15th and nobody knew what was going on. Than he got Covid, had to retire from the season and he really wasn't the same for over a year.

2021 and 2022 were pretty much the same tho. Holeshots, winning speed on some weekends, way outside the top 5th a week later.

In 2023 and 2024 everything clicked. A holeshot was pretty much a moto win from him and he was gone after the first 2-3 turns. 2024 it also didn't matter where he started, he had so much more speed than anyone that he just blew by people most races. Specially 2024 is why everyone had high hopes for Prado actually being a challenge for Jett, he basically looked like Lucas does now.

I sometimes ask myself if he regrets his decision to move to the US (obviously he regrets signing with Kawasaki, no doubt about that), specially now with Lucas also coming over. In 2024 he had all the confidence in the world and definitely thought (and said) he could beat Jett. Now we basically have two Jetts out there with Hunter getting even better. and now Lucas and Deegan aswell? I wouldn't be surprised if we see more SX than MX wins from Prado in the future though.

 

NVA57 wrote:
Eh, I feel like your judgement of the 2024 season is a little cloudy. Yes, Jorge had some rides that were far better than what he's...

Eh, I feel like your judgement of the 2024 season is a little cloudy. Yes, Jorge had some rides that were far better than what he's shown in 2023 (like Sweden and that first Spanish round). But it wasn't like "he had so much more speed" than Jeffrey and Tim. Tim was actually really close on winning the title in 2024, if not for his footpeg breaking off at the penultimate round. Jorge made 19 points on Tim that weekend, yet won the title with 10 points over. You could argue Tim could've won the title if not for that freak accident with only 4 motos to go. Tim also had the red plate still at that point.

wrc777 wrote:

Prado also had mechanical issues in 2024 they were just earlier in the season. His seat fell off in one race.

He lost his seat in a qualifying race. He scored 0 points in one moto because of a start crash and decided to call it a day. No mechanicals that season other than a piss poor performance in the mud.

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devotid
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Saginaw, MI US
6/22/2026 7:58am

"Break him"

Hahahahaha, What an idiot... Dude is barely breaking wind.

 

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Mavetism
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6/22/2026 8:07am
devotid wrote:

"Break him"

Hahahahaha, What an idiot... Dude is barely breaking wind.

 

Yea, that pitboard was criminal. What's his name completely took off after that 😂

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Roczoff
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6/22/2026 8:09am

I wish I was a lousy on a motorcycle as Prado.

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1
6/22/2026 8:57am Edited Date/Time 6/22/2026 8:59am

I don’t think it’s been that bad, I’d say he’s clearly the fourth best guy behind Jett, Hunter and Deegan who are basically the “future” of the sport. I don’t think there’s any real shame in being beat by those guys, although I did expect him to beat Deegan.

I do have to laugh at Lewis running with the narrative that Prado basically missed out on a year of racing. I know he got hurt early on in 2025 SX but he raced every outdoor last season. Even if you want to consider him half assing it as missing time that was his choice entirely, he can’t use that as an excuse now.

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ShellyMX
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Smyrna, GA US
6/22/2026 9:00am
NVA57 wrote:
He lost his seat in a qualifying race. He scored 0 points in one moto because of a start crash and decided to call it a...

He lost his seat in a qualifying race. He scored 0 points in one moto because of a start crash and decided to call it a day. No mechanicals that season other than a piss poor performance in the mud.

This is what most people have forgotten. No excuse for that kind of behavior from that caliber of a rider.

8
Jkawi
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CA
6/22/2026 9:04am
He doesn't sound overly disappointed in his post race interview with Lewis honestly. He basically says he lost a lot last year and still needs to...

He doesn't sound overly disappointed in his post race interview with Lewis honestly. He basically says he lost a lot last year and still needs to learn/regain his confidence and the feel he once had. He literally says Iv'e lost a lot of pace/speed but is positive about getting better as the year goes on. To me it sounds like he's switching away from 'I wanna be champ this year' and more into 'OK Iv'e got some work to do but am going to stay positive'. 

kml324 wrote:
I'm sure the DNF contributes to the shift in perspective. It's realistic when you have the consistency of the Lawrences. The post race interview with Lewis is...

I'm sure the DNF contributes to the shift in perspective. It's realistic when you have the consistency of the Lawrences. 

The post race interview with Lewis is insightful. I don't get all the Prado bashing. 

I don't get all the Prado humping...

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6/22/2026 9:07am
Windhamfan wrote:
Welcome to racing in the USA. Just because you win in Europe doesn't always mean you will win here in SX or Moto. I think the...

Welcome to racing in the USA. Just because you win in Europe doesn't always mean you will win here in SX or Moto. I think the the twins will change that up in the future but some guys dominate in MXGP and can't hang with the speed over here. 

Yeah, those Euros always struggle when they leave their homes, uproot their lives to race overseas in a new series on different bikes, to prove their speed against riders completely acclimatised to racing where they've raced their whole lives. Not like all the AMA riders who kill it when they go over to race the GP's.

Oh wait...

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Mit12
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Lake Havasu City, AZ US
6/22/2026 10:46am

I am a big fan of Prado, pumped he came over here to race. I did not like his exit from Kawasaki but it is what it is. Prado is probably the third fastest rider in the series right now. With Tomac and Sexton out. Deegan is beating him because Prado is not in good enough shape to push the complete moto. In the first moto he was able to push and back it down and push a little and keep Deegan behind him. The second moto he could not do it and went from 2nd to 5th. It is a shame that a rider of his talent is being held back because of this. I hope he figures it out and gets in better shape so that he can show his true potential. 

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