What should we expect from Jorge Prado in 2026? It’s one of the big questions right now. Back with Red Bull KTM after a season to forget with Monster Energy Kawasaki, the Spanish rider is deep into his preparation for the new season. Despite his lack of Supercross experience and some criticism sent his way, the ambitions remain unchanged, as Jorge explained during a media roundtable ahead of the 2026 season opener.
“Training is going very well at the moment. We’ve been working for a few months now, and I feel really good on the bike, with the team, and we’ve been spending a lot of time riding. I needed that. Supercross is still very new to me, so the goal this off-season was to put in a lot of laps in practice to feel comfortable with the bike and the tracks. I’ve been able to ride many different tracks, and that has helped us a lot – to see where I’m at, but also how to set up the bike properly. I’m excited as we approach the 2026 season.”
Jorge Prado heads into the new season with a mindset very different from 2025. With his motivation back, the Red Bull KTM rider hopes he can finally put behind him his extremely difficult first campaign on American soil.
“Last year was crazy. I arrived at Anaheim 1 with only 12 days on the bike – and it was Supercross, and a brand-new bike. It was honestly really tough. This time, it’s the opposite because I’m back on a bike I know very well. The settings were good right from the start, and we’ve ridden a lot in training. I’ve also been very consistent and haven’t had a single issue. I’ve been able to train well, which is perfect. There’s still a month to go before Anaheim 1, but so far everything is going really well. I’m going to Bakers Factory for two weeks, then come back to California for Christmas, and then return there for the first half of the season.”
The return to KTM seems to be paying off for the Spaniard, who admits he quickly found his bearings again on the 450SX-F after a 2025 season spent searching for solutions on the factory Kawasaki – a partnership that deteriorated as the months went on.
“I was surprised at how good the settings were on the KTM right from the beginning. They were much better than what I rode with in 2024 when I came over to do a few Supercross rounds. Back then, I didn’t really do any testing. For me, it was more about living a new experience, an adventure. I wasn’t coming to chase big results. This time, we wanted to start with the same settings as in 2024, but we quickly realised we’d need to switch to the new base because it’s much better. The frame is also different now and, actually, it’s quite similar to the one I had in GPs.”
In 2026, Jorge Prado will have two high-profile teammates: Eli Tomac and Aaron Plessinger. But on paper, the Spaniard hasn’t yet been able to benefit from the experience of the multiple AMA champion, who trains alone in his home state of Colorado.
“Eli raced WSX, and he lives in Colorado. We really haven’t had the chance to ride together apart from the photoshoot and media day. It’s a shame – I would have liked him to spend more time in California so we could train together, and so I could learn from him. It’s always great to have someone like him, with so much experience and so many titles, as a reference point. I think I could gain speed if he were with me on the track.”
While Aaron Plessinger had to skip the Paris Supercross due to a health issue, Eli Tomac competed in two rounds of the World Supercross Championship. Jorge Prado, meanwhile, chose to skip potential offseason races to focus entirely on his preparation, away from the spotlight.
“Considering how my off-season has gone so far, I think we made the right decision by not racing this winter. We were able to take the time to make adjustments to the bike and improve it. I could take my time, without feeling rushed thinking ‘I have a race in two weeks’. That kind of thing adds stress to training. I was able to stay relaxed and focus on my training while improving each week. And since Eli raced WSX with the KTM, I think they got enough data from him on that side.”
With the Kawasaki chapter now firmly closed, Jorge Prado is reunited with the KTM group for the 2026 season – and with it, his confidence. With the Austrians, the Spaniard had already won four world titles, and returning to his roots quickly became the obvious choice to reboot his American journey.
“Riding again for Red Bull KTM is going to change things. Outdoors, for example, because I already have settings I know, I have a good base, and I know where to improve. I’m not too worried because I know I feel comfortable on the bike, and that I can just focus on improving. The mindset is very different for 2026 – I’m more relaxed and I can focus on myself, on my progression. I don’t need to think too much about the technical aspect or the bike’s development, because I know everything is ready on that side.”
With one month to go before the 2026 season opener, Jorge Prado feels ready – even if he admits he still doesn’t know exactly what to expect in Supercross, a discipline in which he still lacks significant experience.
“My goal is to race the full Supercross season. I’ve never raced on the East Coast where the dirt is a bit softer, and I think that will be even better for me. Right now, I’m doing a lot of riding in California to get used to the harder tracks. I’m not putting too much pressure on myself in terms of results but obviously I’m a competitor, so when I’m behind the gate, I’m not going to settle for a top 10. I want to run up front, but I also have to be realistic. The goal will be to race all the rounds. I don’t even really know where I stand right now. I don’t really know how to judge my level compared to the others who have much more experience than I do. For now, I’m taking things as they come. My goal is still to win a Supercross title and an Outdoor title. Maybe it will take one year, maybe two, maybe three – but I won’t leave until I’ve succeeded.”
Based in the USA since the end of 2024, Jorge Prado reflects on his overall experience living in the United States.
“Living in the USA is very different from Europe. The US is where you need to be for Supercross. The Outdoor tracks are also very nice. But to live, I prefer Europe. Obviously, my family and friends are there. It’s a lifestyle thing. Here, you always need to take the car to get around, and food is also a bit more complicated. Spain is a very social and lively country. You can go out at 8 p.m. and the streets are full of people walking around. Here, you don’t see many people outside – mostly cars!”
