Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM) waltzed his way to victory in today’s MX2 qualifying race at the MXGP of GB at Matterley Basin, round nine of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship.

The pint-sized Spaniard got his nose ahead halfway down the start straight and then cut across the riders inside him to nail the holeshot and was never headed again, winning by six seconds from team-mate and defending champion Pauls Jonass.

“You could change lines and it was fun,” said Prado, who started throwing out big whips over the huge jumps in the early laps. “I have enjoyed it so much. The start was really important to me and I could manage to get a win so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and Britain’s Ben Watson (Kemea Yamaha) were third around the first few turns before Jonass moved into second and from there the top four were set.

Coming back from an ankle injury, Adam Sterry (F&H Kawasaki) was also running at the front on the opening lap but span out and crashed.

After five minutes Prado was already three seconds clear and continued to stretch his lead on the high-speed circuit as Olsen turned the screw on Jonass but the Latvian managed to keep him at arm’s length until the end of the 20-minute plus two lap race.

In the closing stages Watson came under intense pressure for fourth from Aussie Hunter Lawrence (114 Motorsports Honda) who posted a fastest lap as he passed Calvin Vlaanderen (Team HRC) but the Brit kept his cool and stayed ahead.

Jed Beaton (F&H Kawasaki) also passed Vlaanderen to take sixth from the South African with Michele Cervellin (Yamaha) eighth ahead of Iker Larranager (8Biano Husqvarna) and Ruben Fernandez (F&H Kawasaki).

Britain’s Conrad Mewse (Hitachi ASA KTM UK) finished 11th and Josh Gilbert (Buildbase Honda), in his world championship debut, took a fighting 14th after running top 10 in the early stages. Sterry, who ended the opening lap dead last, came through to 25th at the flag.

The MX2 action kicks off tomorrow with the first of two points-paying races at 1pm.

MXGP Matterley Basin MX2 qualifying race

1    61    Prado, Jorge    ESP     RFME    KTM    26:32.136    10    0:00.000    0:00.000    2:24.273    5    48.6
2    1    Jonass, Pauls    LAT     LAMSF    KTM    26:38.180    10    0:06.044    0:06.044    2:24.863    6    48.4
3    19    Olsen, Thomas Kjer    DEN     DMU    Husqvarna    26:39.406    10    0:07.270    0:01.226    2:24.822    5    48.4
4    919    Watson, Ben    GBR     ACU    Yamaha    26:44.623    10    0:12.487    0:05.217    2:25.550    6    48.2
5    96    Lawrence, Hunter    AUS     MA    Honda    26:45.716    10    0:13.580    0:01.093    2:23.812    6    48.8
6    14    Beaton, Jed    AUS     MA    Kawasaki    26:46.524    10    0:14.388    0:00.808    2:24.808    5    48.4
7    10    Vlaanderen, Calvin    RSA     KNMV    Honda    26:51.954    10    0:19.818    0:05.430    2:25.496    4    48.2
8    747    Cervellin, Michele    ITA     FMI    Yamaha    26:57.504    10    0:25.368    0:05.550    2:26.346    7    47.9
9    66    Larranaga Olano, Iker    ESP     RFME    Husqvarna    27:00.799    10    0:28.663    0:03.295    2:25.954    6    48
10    70    Fernandez, Ruben    ESP     RFME    Kawasaki    27:07.937    10    0:35.801    0:07.138    2:26.485    10    47.9
11    426    Mewse, Conrad    GBR     ACU    KTM    27:09.017    10    0:36.881    0:01.080    2:26.384    10    47.9
12    57    Sanayei, Darian    USA     ACU    Kawasaki    27:10.321    10    0:38.185    0:01.304    2:24.942    10    48.4
13    64    Covington, Thomas    USA     MUL    Husqvarna    27:16.359    10    0:44.223    0:06.038    2:26.616    8    47.8
14    326    Gilbert, Josh    GBR     ACU    Honda    27:18.755    10    0:46.619    0:02.396    2:27.801    7    47.4
15    29    Jacobi, Henry    GER     DMSB    Husqvarna    27:19.128    10    0:46.992    0:00.373    2:25.967    8    48
16    193    Geerts, Jago    BEL     FMB    Yamaha    27:21.148    10    0:49.012    0:02.020    2:26.694    9    47.8
17    127    Rodriguez, Anthony    VEN     FMV    Yamaha    27:21.230    10    0:49.094    0:00.082    2:26.658    8    47.8
18    56    Weltin, Marshal    USA     AMA    Honda    27:28.738    10    0:56.602    0:07.508    2:27.378    8    47.6
19    46    Pootjes, Davy    NED     KNMV    KTM    27:33.645    10    1:01.509    0:04.907    2:28.649    5    47.2
20    95    Furlotti, Simone    ITA     FMI    Yamaha    27:35.999    10    1:03.863    0:02.354    2:27.814    6    47.4
21    338    Herbreteau, David    FRA     FFM    KTM    27:40.838    10    1:08.702    0:04.839    2:29.282    7    47
22    172    Van doninck, Brent    BEL     FMB    Husqvarna    27:42.328    10    1:10.192    0:01.490    2:28.965    5    47.1
23    102    Sikyna, Richard    SVK     SMF    KTM    27:43.116    10    1:10.980    0:00.788    2:29.579    6    46.9
24    101    Pichon, Zachary    FRA     FFM    KTM    27:43.686    10    1:11.550    0:00.570    2:28.586    10    47.2
25    811    Sterry, Adam    GBR     ACU    Kawasaki    28:01.101    10    1:28.965    0:17.415    2:28.283    3    47.3
26    297    Gole, Anton    SWE     SVEMO    Yamaha    28:07.257    10    1:35.121    0:06.156    2:31.870    3    46.2
27    226    Koch, Tom    GER     DMSB    KTM    28:08.624    10    1:36.488    0:01.367    2:30.834    5    46.5
28    26    Bertuzzi, Nicola    ITA     FMI    KTM    28:33.528    10    2:01.392    0:24.904    2:33.259    8    45.8
29    34    De Waal, Micha-Boy    NED     KNMV    Honda    10:26.237    3    7 laps    7 laps    2:30.905    2    46.5
30    321    Bernardini, Samuele    ITA     FMI    TM    8:19.889    2    8 laps    1 lap    2:39.708    1    43.9