Prado on a tough day in Latvia
Consistent rain threatened to transform this weekend’s Grand Prix of Latvia, the sixth stop of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, into a game of survival. Those conditions put the Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing riders to the test on race day, but vital points were secured at the familiar circuit of Kegums.
- Jorge Prado claims his first pole position of the season.
- MC 450F helps Jorge Prado take yet another holeshot.
- Simon Langenfelder leads five laps aboard his MC 250F.
Jorge Prado started the Grand Prix of Latvia in fine form; he raced to the holeshot in moto one and led for more than half of the race before being demoted to second. ’61’ continued to chase the win until the very end and showed some impressive determination, but fell seconds from the finish line and had to settle for twelfth. Prado salvaged a thirteenth in moto two, after another crash early on, and was eventually ranked in twelfth overall at the Grand Prix. Second is where he currently lies in the standings.
Jorge Prado: “Saturday was good and Sunday was okay. It is just a pity about the crash that happened when I was trying to make a pass for the lead. I was good before that – the track was quite tricky. I was ready to do well in the second moto, but I went down at the beginning of the race. I just could not regroup after that. We will reset now and go again at the next round.”
The power within the MC 250F helped Simon Langenfelder take the holeshot in the first MX2 stint – he put that advantage to good use by holding onto the race lead for five laps. Fourth was the position that he took at the end of that first moto, after losing third with just a couple of laps to go. The second moto was a little tougher on the young German; he charged to twelfth after a couple of mistakes. Going 4-12 on the day, he was eventually ranked in seventh overall. Langenfelder is currently tied for third in the standings.
Unfortunately, Mattia Guadagnini was luckless in MX2. ‘101’ was making impressive progress in moto one, following a so-so start, but made a mistake at the halfway point and reached the checkered flag in fourteenth. The second moto was a much better showing for Guadagnini, who took fifth place after a stronger start aboard his MC 250F. Ninth was where he ended up in the overall classification, thanks to a 14-5 scorecard, and he now sits seventh in the standings.
Simon Langenfelder: “I got the holeshot in the first race and tried to stay out of trouble – a few riders passed me. I finished fourth, but my riding was okay. I had a good jump in the second race and went way too far to the outside. I made a lot of mistakes on the difficult track and just did not ride like myself. We are looking ahead to the next round now.”
Mattia Guadagnini: “It was not the best weekend. I went off track in the first moto and lost a lot of time, then I lost my rhythm and could only manage to get fourteenth. That was really bad. I had a better start in the second race, but I was not riding the best in the first few laps and got passed. I did not want to make any mistakes and throw another moto away, so I just took fifth place. I know that I can do more than this. The results will come.”
Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing will return to the familiar surroundings of Italy next. The seventh round of the 2022 FIM Motocross World Championship, the Grand Prix of Italy, is set to be run at the iconic Maggiora venue on May 07/08.
Words: Gas Gas
Image: Juan Pable Acevedo
