After a disaster of a season for Jorge Prado in what was his first year racing in America, Kawasaki have confirmed they have reached an agreement to release Prado from his contract after only one year into the contract.
Prado is now expected to be announced as a new Factory KTM rider for the 2026 season.
The 2026 season will be a huge season for Prado to say the least.
The following press release confirms the news via Kawasaki – it’s very short:
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has reached a settlement for the early release of Jorge Prado from his Kawasaki rider agreement, effective October 16, 2025. Kawasaki wishes the best for Jorge in his future endeavors.
Monster Energy® Kawasaki is hard at work in preparation for the 2026 SMX World Championship™ and will announce its 450 Class and 250 Class SuperMotocross racing team in early November. The Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship kicks off on January 10, 2026 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
Both parties can now move on from a difficult season and focus on the future. It remains to be see who the second rider will be at Kawasaki but Chase Sexton’s move is expected to be announced soon.
We caught up with Chad Reed who gave his view on the Prado/Kawasaki situation:
