Despite not winning in Arnhem last weekend, the biggest smile coming out of the Dutch facility probably went to defending MXGP champion, Jorge Prado, who close the points gap to series leader, Tim Gajser to just nine points. Without question, while it was Jeffrey Herlings who is in the best form of the top three, it is Prado that might have placed himself as the favourite to win the 2024 MXGP World championship.

It is a big call, as Gajser is still, the man to beat, as he has the red plate, but the momentum Prado is building is impressive. In fact, Prado has started doing something of a Gajser mentality, with 2-2-2-1-2-2-2-1-1-3-2-2 results since returning from Indonesia. What is most impressive about Prado, he isn’t making huge mistakes like his rivals and has looked very, very calm.

The World media sat down with three-time World motocross champion on Sunday afternoon, and this is what he told us.

On Not Winning, But Closing the Points Gap

My goal is to always go for the win. This is the last sand race of the year, maybe hoping I could win this GP, I tried my best. I knew the starts were going to be important. First moto was okay, I could pass Glenn quickly, but then I had trouble with lappers and that broke my rhythm, and my riding wasn’t perfect in the first moto. Second moto, the start was a little bit worse, I was behind Jeffrey and then he made a mistake, and I could go by him and put myself ahead of the rest of the field and be first. Jeffrey was following me, so when he got the chance, he could pass me. I was trying to stay behind him and then I almost crashed with a lapper, he just crashed in front of me, and I lost a lot of time there. Had I been a little closer I could have crashed into his bike, so I was lucky there. For the rest, the pace was good as I had the same pace as Jeffrey the whole time. The last two laps I was far behind. It was good for me, two times second, gaining points in the championship. I think I am nine behind now, so, its good.

Being The Points Chaser This Year

I just go for the win every time out, but last year I could afford to be on the podium and no winning the GP. I just made the best out of it and stay safe. I had almost 100-point advantage, so that is a lot of points. That is a lot of points to play with and with my good starts and good riding last year, I could manage that gap very well. This year is different, I lost points in Arco with the mechanical issue and 25 straight away in Maggiora with the start crash, so, that is 35 points I lost very quickly, and it isn’t easy, because Tim is also riding very well and very consistent. We are getting closer, but it takes sometimes and hopefully in the next rounds, I can ride my best level, like I am doing now and not make any mistakes and get the red plate.

The Near Jump Crash with Gajser

For sure, I think neither of us wanted to get so close. I think, it just happened. I mean, in the sand, it is unpredictable, you just land in a soft spot in the jump before and it made him go to one side and me the other side. Luckily, it ended up very good. I was already seeing myself with the face in the sand and luckily, I was in the next corner, so this was a very lucky moment. We need to be happy we are standing here right now.

Leading Statistics and Lappers

I mean, the championship now is tight with us three and it is a high level. Last year Jeffrey got hurt in Germany, so he was out after half season and Romain had a crash and Tim was not there, so, right now, we are all fit and all three battling for the title. It is very close with us, so you cannot afford to make any mistakes. My goal right now is to start first and stay in that position, which is my tactic. And I hope at places like this, I hope to pass the lappers easier. I think it is not normal we see lappers two or three times in one moto. I don’t think in any championship. We race a World championship, but I raced the Spanish championship at the start of the year, and I think I lapped everyone, maybe two times, but here it is the same and we need to lap two or three times, the same guy. It is embarrassing for us, and it makes I dangerous and I hope somebody makes action on that, because with lappers are all over the place. Lap them once and they should go out, or something like this. It is good we have full gates, but not riders 30 or 40 seconds slower, sorry.

JP/GasGas images