Published on 8 October 2021

Prado talks Herlings German GP collision on the eve of French GP attempt

Double MX2 World Champion and 2021 MXGP title contender Jorge Prado will attempt the Grand Prix of France at Lacapelle Marival for the twelfth round of eighteen less than one week after requiring surgery on his upper chest and arm. The 20 year old sustained the injury after a controversial collision with Red Bull KTM teammate Jeffrey Herlings cresting the finish line in the first moto at Teutschenthal and the Grand Prix of Germany last Sunday.

Prado won the race by just a tenth of a second but altered his trajectory over the finish jump and clashed with Herlings mid-air. Both riders were fortunate to escape more serious injury although Prado went to the local hospital in Halle and missed the second moto while Herlings rode to 3^rd place with a painful knee.

The Dutchman was initially critical of Prado’s defensive tactics and many questioned why the Spaniard crossed lines. 

“I took one rut on the left that just led me to the middle of the ramp and I just let the bike go because it was the last lap and I didn’t imagine Jeffrey would have been sprinting to the very last metre,” he said exclusively and on the eve of the French round. “I took the rut because I knew the exit of the track was on the right of the landing after the finish. At the very last second I heard his bike, I looked to the right and I knew we were going to crash. It was just a race incident. Many people said I was going to block him, which is not correct and there was no point in doing it. Maybe I should have kept going [left] a bit more but knowing I was first I just relaxed and put myself in a good position for the exit. It was a pity.”

The sensational incident was costly for Prado’s title bid in his second season in the premier class. He dropped to 4^th in the standings and 31 points behind Tim Gajser but aims to revive his hopes in France and then his home round in Madrid the following week. 

“Every day it’s a bit better,” he commented on his arm. “The cut was pretty deep and I was lucky I didn’t get any damage to the nerves or the muscles. I had some stitches under my arm and now the plan is to see if I can ride the bike and race this weekend. It’s a bit hard to pull my elbow up, but I’ll try to do my best. Some points will be good enough.” 

Words: Adam Wheeler

Image: Infront Moto Racing