After only six weeks of supercross practice, Jorge Prado is diving straight in at the deep into a stacked 450 supercross class full of 450 and 250 supercross champs, but if anyone can make it work it is the super technical MXGP world champ.
Jorge, you are over here in Southern California, does this beat riding Lommel in December?
It’s a bit different! Riding with roll-offs and a rain jacket to wearing short. It’s a cool different winter but it can be good for motocross and preparation for MXGP, so, excited.
You probably couldn’t have picked a more different season to come into, how were you feeling sitting up there with all the other guys? Excited, nervous?
Super excited, it’s a great year to make it happen, not only is it a great field but also after my success in 23 winning the MXGP world championship, I think it’s the right time to come over and test supercross. I think it’s the perfect decision and hopefully we can get a lot of experience and also get a clear mind for the future and see what I want.
How do you feel on the bike? You have had about 6 weeks but had to go back to Europe for the FIM awards, that’s not a lot of time but your skillset is so good, do you think you can compete with them?
Yeah, after Nations I came over and spent about a week and a half then I had to go back to Europe, then came over again for a week then had to go back to Europe. So I had some interruptions let’s say in the beginning. Now I have had around five weeks straight of training which is okay. We got some testing done, I feel very good with the bike for the time I have been on track, we have a good set-up and that’s important right? When I go on track I feel comfortable, everything feels better, for the rest, I try my best with the little time I have to be as prepared as possible and I think I am not too bad.
How different is your bike from an MXGP bike from the frame to suspension, is it difficult to adjust to?
It’s totally different. Supercross is totally different, the suspension, frame it’s totally different. I like my bike for MXGP and I like my bike here for racing supercross.
The hype in America is different to MXGP, even though you are MXGP world champion, some guys over here might not know you, is it nice to have that appreciation now over here?
I think they do a good job here. I think the media is great and I think Feld is doing a great job too, it’s nice for the sport and nice for the rider as well. I have to say I feel very comfortable from the first day with all the media stuff with Feld until now, I feel like we work very nice. I am super excited to see how everything rolls during the race day. For me everything is new, the format, everything, I am happy.
You aren’t the first MXGP champion to come over for the first couple of rounds, Bayle did it, Everts did it in 92, Tortelli, it’s like you are going back in time a bit! They won world titles after (Bayle and Tortelli, Everts was leading the 250 GPs but then got injured in 92) so it helped them, I guess that’s what you’re hoping as well!
It’s so different comparing supercross to now to 20/30 years ago. Supercross has developed so much that it’s almost become a different sport. The difference between supercross and motocross is so much bigger than maybe 30 years ago. But I am happy we could make this work because racing full time in Europe it’s difficult for the brand to allow it and make the step. So to get all the support and make it happen I really appreciate it from my side, we are here to get experience.
Is it just the three rounds, if you do well is there any extension to that to the end of January or do you know?
Our goal is to validate the title in MXGP, so after three rounds we need to go back to Europe and try to win MXGP again.
Do you think this will all help you with the intensity of supercross going back to MXGP?
I think everything from supercross, the position, the way of racing, the way of handling the bike, I think everything helps. For sure when I get back to motocross I will feel even better, that’s what I expect, so we will see, it’s a good preparation for motocross.
Watch Jorge’s interview at four minutes 20 seconds in, with Adam Cianciarulo at 9 minutes 18
Interview and image: Jonathan McCready
