JORGE PRADO AND CONFIDENCE

Defending MXGP World Champion Jorge Prado surely arrived in Argentina with one thing on his mind and that was victory. Unlike a lot of his competition, who had said prior to the opening round, they just wanted to come out of Argentina with solid points and their health. That confidence from the Red Bull GasGas rider says enough about the way he is looking at taking on the 2024 MXGP Championship defence.

“I don’t know what to say,” Prado said. “I mean, I honestly didn’t have that much time on the motocross bike, so I didn’t do much, a little bit of testing, but enough to make me feel comfortable in Argentina. On my mind, coming into the race, I wanted to win. I don’t know about the rest, but I wanted to win, and I was believing in myself. That was my mind set, even though I didn’t have that much time. My winter has been totally different to my career and to the rest of the riders, but I am still confident in myself and my riding, to race Argentina and to win.”

Carrying the number one plate Prado has thought about since he was a young boy. Laying in his bed at night, he dreamt over and over again being the best in the World and having a nice big number one on the front of his machine. In Argentina, he not only carried that number one with dignity, but he showed the public, that he was without question, the real number one.

“It was something I always wanted to do since I was a little kid. I always wanted to run the number one and last year as you know I rode the number one in the last couple of rounds last year, but when I came back from America, I said I wanted to do the full season with number one. I think it is cool, I think its cool the people who come to the races know who the best guy is or the champion. It is good for the brand, it is good for myself, because every time I look at my bike, I remember the hard work I had to go through to become champion. Like you said, I think it’s the coolest bike in the paddock. The design of the number, I said I wanted something big, a big number one, like the big number one on my back. I wanted everyone to see it.”

Now, as the MXGP competition head to Spain this week, for the second round of the championship, they will all have one eye on Prado, knowing, that he means business and isn’t going to bow to anyone.

“I mean, I am the defending champion, I came back, I won, I get out of there with the red plate, so I am in a really good spot. Two times fastest lap again in Argentina, both races, so yep, right now there isn’t any rider I should be afraid of, and I don’t say that to be cool, those are just facts. If I am the best, I am the best and I can say it right. Last year I was the best and that is why I got the title and hopefully I can be a better version of myself and hopefully we can win another title. I am not afraid of anyone, but full respect to everyone, but I am very confident.”

If confidence wins championships, then the three-time World motocross champion can more or less put that fourth World title into his trophy cabinet. With a huge crowd expected this weekend, great weather also on the card and a very hot Spanish hero, you just know something special could very easily happen this coming weekend.

Photo Credit : GasGas image