Spanish teenager Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM) ripped to a commanding wire-to-wire win in today’s MX2 qualification moto at the MXGP of Trentino in Pietramurata, round four of the FIM Motocross World Championship.
Prado, currently third in the series standings, started first ahead of Thomas Kjer Olsen (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) and never looked threatened, even allowing himself the luxury of easing off on the final lap to win from the Dane – who sits second in the points table – by just under six seconds.
“I’ve finally got my first qualifying race of the season,” said Prado. “I lost it in Valkenswaard on the last lap. I had a good start and put in some good laps in the beginning and just tried to ride with the flow of the track. I’m ready for tomorrow.”
Defending champion Pauls Jonass (Red Bull KTM) had a much tougher time after getting caught up in chaotic scenes in the second turn. At the end of the opening lap the Latvian, unbeaten so far this season with six wins from six starts, was all the way back in 30th but he kept calm, didn’t panic and by the finish had passed his way up to 15th.
America’s Thomas Covington (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) moved ahead of Conrad Mewse (Hitachi ASA KTM UK) just before half-distance to claim third and the 18-year-old Brit then was then pushed back to fifth by compatriot Ben Watson (Kemea Yamaha) in the closing laps.
Adam Sterry (F&H Kawasaki) made it three British riders in the top seven with a solid ride.
Prado’s win will give him first gate pick on the demanding, hard-pack track for tomorrow’s two motos – an obvious advantage – but if the fast-starting Jonass can stay upright around the first few turns he’s a good bet to keep his amazing win-streak going.
1 61 Prado, Jorge ESP RFME KTM 24:28.222 13 0:00.000 0:00.000 1:48.817 4 54.9
2 19 Olsen, Thomas Kjer DEN DMU Husqvarna 24:34.042 13 0:05.820 0:05.820 1:51.248 5 53.7
3 64 Covington, Thomas USA MUL Husqvarna 24:35.443 13 0:07.221 0:01.401 1:50.653 4 54
4 919 Watson, Ben GBR ACU Yamaha 24:37.257 13 0:09.035 0:01.814 1:51.243 5 53.7
5 426 Mewse, Conrad GBR ACU KTM 24:45.042 13 0:16.820 0:07.785 1:51.244 3 53.7
6 29 Jacobi, Henry GER DMSB Husqvarna 24:54.854 13 0:26.632 0:09.812 1:51.486 3 53.6
7 811 Sterry, Adam GBR ACU Kawasaki 24:58.472 13 0:30.250 0:03.618 1:51.777 3 53.4
8 70 Fernandez, Ruben ESP RFME Kawasaki 25:07.892 13 0:39.670 0:09.420 1:52.892 5 52.9
9 747 Cervellin, Michele ITA FMI Honda 25:09.516 13 0:41.294 0:01.624 1:53.043 7 52.8
10 46 Pootjes, Davy NED KNMV KTM 25:13.435 13 0:45.213 0:03.919 1:51.637 5 53.5
11 18 Brylyakov, Vsevolod RUS MFR Yamaha 25:17.059 13 0:48.837 0:03.624 1:53.417 11 52.6
12 321 Bernardini, Samuele ITA FMI TM 25:21.954 13 0:53.732 0:04.895 1:53.848 10 52.4
13 193 Geerts, Jago BEL FMB Yamaha 25:24.008 13 0:55.786 0:02.054 1:53.928 11 52.4
14 14 Beaton, Jed AUS MA Kawasaki 25:25.296 13 0:57.074 0:01.288 1:52.393 4 53.1
15 1 Jonass, Pauls LAT LAMSF KTM 25:27.049 13 0:58.827 0:01.753 1:52.934 7 52.9
16 98 Vaessen, Bas NED KNMV Honda 25:30.904 13 1:02.682 0:03.855 1:54.485 4 52.1
17 338 Herbreteau, David FRA FFM KTM 25:36.973 13 1:08.751 0:06.069 1:54.442 6 52.2
18 172 Van doninck, Brent BEL FMB Husqvarna 25:37.738 13 1:09.516 0:00.765 1:53.316 7 52.7
19 10 Vlaanderen, Calvin RSA KNMV Honda 25:38.537 13 1:10.315 0:00.799 1:53.846 6 52.4
20 959 Renaux, Maxime FRA FFM Yamaha 25:39.170 13 1:10.948 0:00.633 1:54.724 3 52
21 161 Östlund, Alvin SWE SVEMO Yamaha 25:42.796 13 1:14.574 0:03.626 1:53.832 6 52.4
22 275 Furbetta, Joakin ITA FMI KTM 25:43.793 13 1:15.571 0:00.997 1:54.345 2 52.2
23 66 Larranaga Olano, Iker ESP RFME Husqvarna 25:45.551 13 1:17.329 0:01.758 1:55.252 6 51.8
24 211 Lapucci, Nicholas ITA FMI Yamaha 25:57.715 13 1:29.493 0:12.164 1:54.073 3 52.3
25 44 Lesiardo, Morgan ITA FMI KTM 25:59.938 13 1:31.716 0:02.223 1:56.258 8 51.4
26 872 Boisrame, Mathys FRA FFM Honda 26:01.829 13 1:33.607 0:01.891 1:56.267 3 51.3
27 199 Zaragoza, Jorge ESP RFME Yamaha 26:03.236 13 1:35.014 0:01.407 1:53.957 3 52.4
28 520 Clochet, Jimmy FRA FFM KTM 26:04.544 13 1:36.322 0:01.308 1:55.118 5 51.9
29 101 Pichon, Zachary FRA FFM KTM 26:05.620 13 1:37.398 0:01.076 1:57.133 13 51
30 26 Bertuzzi, Nicola ITA FMI KTM 26:06.044 13 1:37.822 0:00.424 1:56.195 9 51.4
31 226 Koch, Tom GER DMSB KTM 26:09.267 13 1:41.045 0:03.223 1:56.579 10 51.2
32 118 Rubini, Stephen FRA FFM KTM 26:10.855 13 1:42.633 0:01.588 1:53.124 3 52.8
33 34 De Waal, Micha-Boy NED KNMV Honda 26:37.809 13 2:09.587 0:26.954 1:53.767 9 52.5
34 110 Verhaeghe, Alexis FRA FFM KTM 24:31.266 12 1 lap 1 lap 1:58.325 6 50.5
35 95 Furlotti, Simone ITA FMI Yamaha 25:04.830 12 1 lap 0:33.564 1:53.386 3 52.7
36 102 Sikyna, Richard SVK SMF KTM 14:50.534 7 6 laps 5 laps 1:56.325 5 51.3
37 96 Lawrence, Hunter AUS MA Honda 10:34.297 5 8 laps 2 laps 2:01.653 2 49.1
38 56 Weltin, Marshal USA AMA Honda 9:14.209 4 9 laps 1 lap 1:57.186