Jorge Prado's second consecutive world title!
Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM) crowned his flawless season today in Uddevella with the premature extension of his MX2 world title. A victory in the first round for teammate Tom Vialle sealed the fate of challenger Thomas Kjer Olsen.
When Prado became world champion for the first time last year at the expense of favorite Pauls Jonass, it was a big surprise. This season there was no limit to the 18-year-old Spaniard who was never threatened. Prado was so dominant that he won every GP in which he started.
Prado missed the British Grand Prix with a shoulder injury. After that he took 13 wins in a row. No fewer than 11 victories came after a double series victory. In total, “The Tornado” collected 29 victories in 27 series, and he usually crossed the finish line with a big victory.
The two-time world champion has long been regarded as the top talent of his generation because in 2011 he became youth world champion in 65cc. Jorge himself attributes his successful season to the combination of experience, confidence and strong starts.
“My starts definitely helped me a lot. And I'm fast in the first laps when the track is wet. When we train on our private circuit (Malagrotta in Rome), we also prepare ourselves for such conditions. I've worked hard for this season. I made a lot of progress in 2018, so the foundation was good. The extra experience I gained was an additional asset. Finally, I have brought all those elements together, I now feel very much at home on all types of surfaces. Hopefully I can continue this trend in the future!”
Although he never came under pressure, the protege of Tony Cairoli and Claudio De Carli did not stall on the spot. This made 2019 a year in which Prado grew into an even more complete driver. “In France I was beaten in the first heat by Jago Geerts. I lost my focus a bit,” he says. “That was definitely a lesson. Every time I go on the track I know that there is more to come, that I have to continue to improve. In the second heat in Imola I made a gap and at one point I saw my pursuers taking a second off my lead. For me that was a signal: 'Oh, I know I can go even faster...' As a result, I set lap times faster again and was able to extend my lead again. Those kinds of factors keep you sharp and allow you to stay focused.”
Tekst: Adam Wheeler, Tom Jacobs
Photos: Gino Maes, Ray Archer
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