Defending World MXGP champion Jorge Prado just went about his work, normal as usual and showed his competition, that 2024 won’t be getting easier any time soon. Just when it felt like the other big three (Gajser, Herlings and Febvre) were making progress to the speed of the Spaniard, he showed us that they are not. The number one took the holeshot and took off, winning with ease. Championship points, Gajser leaders Prado by three points, Gajser on 276 points and Prado 273pts.

Jorge Prado: It was a very good race. So happy to make it happen here in Spain and in the qualy race yesterday. Got a good start and managed the race. Super happy with another moto win and hopefully we can do it again in the second moto.

As he has done so often this season, controlled how much he wanted to win by and was probably riding at 80% of his true potential. 2015 MXGP champion Romain Febvre was second and Calvin Vlaanderen finished third. Jeffrey Herlings was fourth and Tim Gajser sixth. The championship between Prado and Gajser is very close, but you wouldn’t know it going by the speed of Prado here today.

MXGP Moto One

Prado with the holeshot ahead of Febvre, Vlaanderen, Guillod, Gajser, Seewer, Toendel, Bogers, Gifting, Herlings in 10th. Coldenhoff 12th and Jonass in 15th. This is bad news for everyone as the Spaniard will just take off. Gajser moved past Guillod and into third and Herlings into ninth.

One lap and the lead was 3.2 seconds, with Gajser crashing and dropping well back in the field. The Slovenian in 14th place. Top ten was Prado, Febvre, Guillod, Vlaanderen, Bogers, Toendel, Seewer, Herlings, Jonass and Gifting.

Gajser no messing around as he moved into 11th quickly, but some 17.5 seconds off the pace of the leader, Prado. Herlings is 13.8 seconds away from Prado. Yes, the Spaniard is giving another lesson to these two legends. Two laps and the lead was 3.9 seconds.

Herlingsb blasted past both Toendel and Seewer to move into sixth place, but 16.7 seconds off Prado’s pace, Gajser into 10th and 22 seconds back. On lap three it was Prado, Febvre, Vlaanderen, Guillod, Bogers, Herlings, Seewer, Toendel, Jonass and Gajser.

Febvre catching Prado, but it is just Prado playing with his competition like a cat plays with a mouse? The lead was three seconds and then suddenly four seconds, so take your guess who is controlling this moto. Herlings moved into fifth to get past Bogers and 18 seconds off the leader. Gajser up to eight place and 23.6 seconds back.

Lap five and the lead was 3.1 seconds, as Herlings moved into fourth place, but still 19 seconds back. Vlaanderen five seconds ahead of Herlings, but Herlings is looking very fast. Gajser now 24 seconds back. The lead on lap six was 2.9 seconds, but you just get the feeling Prado will make it four seconds again soon.

Gajser taking a wild ride off the track as he tried to pass Guillod, and lucky he didn’t hurt himself, but stayed on the bike. He has just passed Jonass, but lost that place again and was back in eight place again.

Prado extends the lead to 4.6 seconds and Herlings still 22 seconds back, with Vlaanderen also getting away from the KTM rider. The gap between Herlings and Vlaanderen was six seconds. Gajser back into seventh and trying to pass Guillod again. On lap eight it was Prado with a 6.7 second lead over Febvre, then Vlaanderen, Herlings, Seewer, Gajser, Guillod, Jonass, Bogers and Coldenhoff 10th. Four Dutchmen inside the top ten.

Lap 10 and it was Prado with a 6.2 second lead, then Febvre, Vlaanderen, Herlings, Seewer, Gajser, Guillod, Jonass, Coldenhoff and Bogers. Herlings catching Vlaanderen, but very slightly and Gajser closing up on Seewer, but still a gap of seven seconds between those two. Herlings actually lapping similar times as Prado, but not making up any ground. In fact, on lap 12, Herling clocked a third lap in a row quicker than Prado, but you get the feeling Prado is just managing the moto and not pushing 100%.

On lap 13 the lead was 6.5 seconds with Febvre in second, Vlaanderen was 16.5 seconds away from Prado and Herling was 22.6 seconds off the leader. Gajser was not making enough ground on Seewer to move into fifth. Prado wins from Febvre and Vlaanderen.

MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification: 1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 34:11.687; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:02.036; 3. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, Yamaha), +0:02.599; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:16.658; 5. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:23.255; 6. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:27.707; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:43.667; 8. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +0:45.774; 9. Pauls Jonass (LAT, Honda), +0:52.013; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +0:58.586; 11. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), +0:59.976; 12. Isak Gifting (SWE, Yamaha), +1:35.016; 13. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +1:40.200; 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:45.367; 15. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Beta), -1 lap(s); 16. Alvin Östlund (SWE, Honda), -1 lap(s); 17. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 18. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 19. Benoit Paturel (FRA, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 20. Ander Valentin (ESP, Yamaha), -1 lap(s); 21. Mark Scheu (GER, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 22. Thomas Vermijl (BEL, GASGAS), -2 lap(s); 23. Lucas Bodega Gomez (ESP, GASGAS), -2 lap(s); 24. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 25. Ben Watson (GBR, Beta), -7 lap(s); 26. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), -19 lap(s);

MXGP - World Championship Classification: 1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 276 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 273 p.; 3. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 249 p.; 4. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 224 p.; 5. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 206 p.; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 178 p.; 7. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 177 p.; 8. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 163 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 108 p.; 10. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 108 p.; 11. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 92 p.; 12. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 85 p.; 13. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 79 p.; 14. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 69 p.; 15. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 63 p.; 16. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 61 p.; 17. Alvin Östlund (SWE, HON), 53 p.; 18. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, BET), 46 p.; 19. Tom Koch (GER, KTM), 40 p.; 20. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 37 p.; 21. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 28 p.; 22. Maximilian Spies (GER, KTM), 27 p.; 23. Adam Sterry (GBR, KTM), 23 p.; 24. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 22 p.; 25. Tim Edberg (SWE, HON), 13 p.; 26. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), 10 p.; 27. Jere Haavisto (FIN, KTM), 8 p.; 28. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 7 p.; 29. Emilio Scuteri (ITA, HON), 6 p.; 30. Ander Valentin (ESP, YAM), 6 p.; 31. Todd Kellett (GBR, YAM), 5 p.; 32. Lars van Berkel (NED, HON), 5 p.; 33. Miguel Cordovez (ECU, YAM), 4 p.; 34. Fabio Aparecido dos Santos (BRA, YAM), 3 p.; 35. Anton Nagy (SWE, YAM), 3 p.; 36. Nicolas Rolando (URU, HUS), 2 p.; 37. Andres Benenaula (ECU, KAW), 1 p.; 38. Sergio Ignacio Villaronga Muga (CHI, HON), 1 p.;