It was a big weekend for Jorge Prado as it’s the real start of something new. Even though he did race A1 last year he knew he’d have been going back to contest the MXGP World Championship. This time around he knows that he is in America for the long haul and not only that but it was his debut with Kawasaki.
Anyone that has been watching Prado race MXGP have seen him nail starts for a very long time and he took that to Anaheim with him getting the holeshot in the main and briefly leading. The Spaniard was looking good for a top ten result before a crash dropped him to fourteenth but it was a positive Kawasaki debut. There’s no doubt he’ll continue to improve and learn as he adapts to Supercross – that was only his fifth Supercross event ever and they’ve all been in the 450 class.
We caught up with Prado to discuss Anaheim which you can read, listen to or watch below…
GateDrop: Jorge Prado, until that crash in the whoops, you rode really well all night. Were you surprised at your level tonight, or was that what you were expecting?
Prado: I was actually surprised, it was a very good night. Yeah, good starts, good riding, I need to say I’m happy. I can improve, but I mean, with the little riding I did, I’m super happy.
GateDrop: The whoops at the end of that sand section, it seemed to be the only place in the main event that you were really losing time, around the rest of the track it was fine.
Prado: Yeah, the rest of the track was good, I was losing a lot of time in that section, I didn’t really feel super comfortable. You know, myself and the team can work on it, and it’s not a stress, I think we can improve a lot, so that’s it.
GateDrop: How is the bike feeling? Do you feel there’s room for improvement testing wise? You look pretty comfortable, you were aggressive on everything as well, all day…
Prado: Yeah, the bike was good, obviously we can improve. I was riding, I would say, a bit faster at the test tracks so then, you know, we’ve got to step it up with the setup. But it’s not a big deal, I mean, the team has time, they need to get better, they will help me get better, they did until now, and they will continue, so I’m very happy to have them around, it’s good.
GateDrop: How’s the relationship with the team, you had a lot of time with De Carli, you were really close with him, are you finding this going well with Kawasaki so far?
Prado: Yeah, I’m very happy with the Kawi crew, we have great people every day at the track to make me feel comfortable, to just make myself a better rider too, because it’s not only the bike that’s got to get better, it’s more me, kind of. You know, because as soon as I came here to ride Supercross, I also couldn’t really test, just because I was not good enough to test. So, yeah, now that I’m getting better and better, you know, we can start testing more stuff, and I think as soon as we get more testing, I will just get more comfortable still but it was a great night.
GateDrop: The starts, they’re still there, different bikes, same Jorge Prado at the front, that must give you a good feeling as well?
Prado: Yeah, I never doubted myself, I knew I was going to get good starts, I have a great machine, so, yeah, hopefully we keep this going.
GateDrop: And have you been giving Jason tips on the starts, because he was right there with you in the main event? (laughs).
Prado: No, Jason’s been good, man, he’s been riding awesome at the test tracks. He’s been starting good at the test tracks too, so I expect him to be in the top five for sure in the first corner and that’s cool. We were riding first and second so that’s cool for Kawi, that’s good for us, I have a great teammate, so happy for him to get a podium.
GateDrop: Does that help you feel more comfortable seeing him there at the front, because you ride with him at the test track?
Prado: I mean, I ride with him at the test track, but I don’t even see him because he’s so fast, I’m like two corners and he’s gone, so, I mean, yeah… (laughs).
GateDrop: Very honest (laughs). Those first few laps were pretty intense, there was Jett’s crash, there was Eli’s crash, there was people all around you, but it looked like you got your rhythm the second half of the race, it looked like you were on for like a seventh there, how did you feel the intensity in those first laps?
Prado: No, I mean, it was fine, but I was not feeling like 100% comfortable. You know, it was not easy but it is nothing to worry about. I am happy, happy that I was fighting there with the guys, it was a nice experience.
GateDrop: Brilliant, thank you, Jorge.