MXGP World champion Jorge Prado had a chat with Jase Macalpine, the top podcast host not just in the USA but possibly globally. He’s not just a talented interviewer but also a good mate and a fellow Aussie. He discussed with Prado the possibility of racing in the USA in 2025, or even making it to the opening round of the 2024 AMA Supercross Championship at A1 in just two months. After spending a couple of weeks practicing Supercross in America, Prado took a brief holiday. Upon returning to Europe, he engaged in some PR activities for GasGas at the Milan Show. We believe the entire motocross community will be keeping a close eye on his social media to find out his whereabouts and to see if he fulfills his childhood dream of racing at A1 in America.
Jorge Prado said “If I don’t come over now, maybe next year is too late. I wanted to see how I felt and if I could see myself living over here. So, the group supported me. I would say I enjoyed it more than I expected. I couldn’t remember the feeling eight years ago. I said we go, and test track, bike ready, my training mechanic came over. I had my set-up. I also had support from the whole GasGas/KTM group, and everyone was there testing. I was in the mix, and I saw Christian Craig riding, also the 250 guys. I can learn from the rest. Like I said before, I enjoyed it, and I liked it.
I would like to race something. I am lost. That is something that came to my mind. I told my dad, when does A1 start and I said it’s a good birthday present. The GPS start 11 March, so I had a few months. Could it be possible to do both. I need to speak to the team and organize it. Imagine if I did well in A1. I respect all these guys, so fast and you can feel they have done a lot of laps, and I am not saying I could beat everyone. I know my starts and there are so many months ahead. Just imagine, would I stay or do the GPs. I needed to do the two weeks of riding.
If I race GP, I should go back to Europe and ride Lommel and prepare for the season. I don’t have too much testing ahead. I don’t know. I have my mind on A1, but I am committed to race MXGP in 2024. I am just 22 you know, but I don’t know, I am in a good moment now, everything is flowing good. I am not scared. The whoops I need to do step by step, but I have a good pace. I do all the rhythms and the whoops, for sure not like Malcolm (Stewart). I would love to race A1, that is one of my dreams.
One of my dreams was to win the MXGP championship and I did that. If I go back to Europe, I can improve a lot. But it is riding in the sand, the weather is not great and KTM has a good facility in America. The workshops and good people around. I like the vibe in America, I like Europe too, but everything is better in America (around the KTM situation). I just have a contract for 2024. Going to America is an option. It is hard, changing a lot of things coming to America, but it would be a nice challenge and a dream to enter the stadium with the lights. If I don’t do it now, it will be too late. But, we only live once and I gotta do it, this year, or next year, two years, three years, even if I am not 100%, I need to do it (and give it a try). I need to feel the experience.”
Full podcast
