The KTM riders about the start of a new season!
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will be at full strength this weekend at the British GP in Matterley Basin. Jorge Prado will also compete beyond all expectations for his very first race in the MXGP class.
Eighteen-year-old Prado will join his MXGP teammates Tony Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings at the popular British venue for what will be the tenth Grand Prix at the Winchester circuit. The 2 and 2018 MX2019 World Champion is riding less than three weeks after recovering from a broken left femur but feels fast and confident enough to line up behind the starting gate.
The Spaniard, the Italian and the Dutch form arguably one of the strongest teams in the sport's 64-year history with a combined total of fifteen FIM titles. Cairoli – winner of 89 GPs – is looking for speed after a long recovery from the left shoulder injury that severely curtailed his 2019 campaign. Herlings – with 86 GP wins – has had a strong pre-season with wins in the UK and France to build up his speed and clear any doubts after a disrupted 2019.
In MX2, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has crowned eight different world champions with the KTM 2004 SX-F since 250 and has claimed twelve titles in the last sixteen years. For 2020, they rely on eighteen-year-old Frenchman Tom Vialle, who excelled as Rookie of the Year in 2019 with one win and six podium finishes and a 4th place in the final standings. Vialle also has two preseason wins. He is joined by another eighteen-year-old, Rene Hofer, who comes from the EMX250 and impressed with some wild cards last year.
Matterley Basin has been positive in the past for both Herlings and Cairoli who have enjoyed the top of the podium. Prado still has to wait for a first victory on the undulating English course (he finished 2nd in 2018) but Tom Vialle has fond memories of the vast circuit thanks to his first podium finish almost twelve months ago.
Tony Cairoli: "As always, I'm looking forward to starting another season. I'm not in the best shape right now, but I'm getting better every week and I'm still working on the shoulder. My expectation is that I will always be on the podium: we will focus on that and look at the situation over the many competitions this year.”
Jeffrey Herlings: "2019 was the worst year of my career and I learned from it. My goal this season is to be at all twenty races and try to fight for the championship. My mentality is different. I feel like I don't have to win every race anymore. If I can get on the podium that's good enough and the most important thing is that I can win the races afterwards. Matterley could be a challenge with the weather, but it's a great track to start the year and it's almost a relief to be healthy and ready for it.”
Jorge Prado: "I'm really happy to be in Matterley Basin and made the decision to go so I can get some points that might be important towards the end of the championship. I feel like I have to be there. I have worked very hard since my surgery to be there. I won't take any risks. I've been on the bike for two weeks now, so I don't expect anything. If you have a two month break, then just two weeks of preparation is really nothing. I felt like I could ride a little faster and put my foot down the last few days. The team is very happy that I will be there. I'm starting my MXGP career on a tough note, but I hope after a few races I'll feel better and be able to train more.”
Rene Hofer: "This is the start of an exciting season for me and a season in which I want to learn as much as possible. The team didn't pressure me for results and I just want to get better with every GP. The switch to the factory bike wasn't as big as I expected: I have a lot of power and it was just a matter of getting used to the suspension. We have prepared ourselves as best we can this winter. Matterley is one of my favorite tracks: the jumps on that track make it so much fun. I just hope the weather is good. "
Tom Vialle: "I look at the championship in a bigger way this year. In 2019 it was a bit up and down for me and I think that's normal in a first season, but I need to be more consistent! It's a really big step to talk about the title, but I know I have the speed and it's a new challenge. Matterley is one of the best places in the championship because it is big with nice jumps and the starts are quite spectacular. I love riding there… when the conditions are right!”
Photos: KTM
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