Prado Wins in Turkey
GasGas factory rider, Jorge Prado has scored his 47th GP victory with a very solid 3-1 showing. The defending World champion also closed up a handful of points on series leader Tim Gajser as we head to China in a weeks’ time.
This sensational MXGP season of 2024 continues to give, with Gajser second overall with 4-3 scores and third overall was Jeremy Seewer with 1-6 results. The points gap is now 14 points between Gajser and Prado. Championship points being Tim Gajser 910 points, Jorge Prado 896pts and Jeffrey Herlings 857pts.
Jorge Prado: I mean, I really needed it and the first moto I was so unlucky when my pants came open in the first lap and then the lens came out of my goggles. I came back in the second one, strong start, but I made a mistake and Tim got me, but I passed him back and super happy with the win. Lets keep going. It was a perfect second moto, even though I made a small mistake. We gained points and that is important now.
Tim Gajser: I mean, a solid day again and finishing on the podium and collecting good points for the championship. Second moto I felt better and the first one I struggled with my line choice and the track was one lined track and they worked on the track and that helped a little, but it was hard to pass. Jorge was very fast and now we move onto China.
MXGP Moto Two
Prado led the second MXGP moto from Gajser and Herlings, followed by Febvre, Bonacorsi, Coldenhoff, Forato, Pancar, Renaux, and Fernandez 10th. Dark shadows as the sun dropping in Turkey and it might be a difficult one for the MXGP boys.
Prado pushing really hard to get away and after a lap the gap was two second and the defending champion looking very, very fast. Seewer back in 11th place as the moto one winner not getting the GP win today.
Gajser closing up on Prado as the HRC man looking serious about getting the GP win. Renaux crashed and dropped back into 14th place and on lap two it was Prado with a 1.3 second lead over Gajser, with Herlings four seconds back in third, then Febvre, Bonacorsi, Coldenhoff, Forato, Seewer, Pancar and Fernandez.
Seewer up to eighth place, as he tries to get a podium finish and the lead by Prado over Gajser was still a little over a second, with Herlings 4.6 back in third. Lap four and the lead from Prado was one second as Herlings started catching the front two.
Gajser looking very confident as he hounds Prado and you do get the feeling that the Slovenian can just sit back and follow, but Gajser is also a winner and will want to extra points and the GP victory. Herlings right up on the two front men and we have another three-way battle for the moto win.
Prado, Gajser and Herlings all close enough to make all their team nervous. Does Gajser risk passing and having Prado behind him, or just sit back and watch, and does Herlings have enough to pass both guys?
Lap eight and the top ten was Prado, Gajser, Herlings, Febvre, Bonacorsi, Coldenhoff, Forato, Seewer, Fernandez and Pancar 10th. Again, Herlings getting closer to the front men and with 10 minutes remaining and two laps, you just know this is when Herlings is at his best. Prado getting away from Gajser a little.
A lot of lapped riders now and which of the big three has problems with them? Prado riding really well now and three seconds ahead of Gajser and Herlings five seconds off the leader. Febvre 18 seconds off the leader in fourth place. Seewer moved into seventh place with a pass on Forato.
Prado quickest lap of the race and his is majestic up front and now 3.4 seconds ahead of Gajser, with Herlings getting closer and closer to Gajser. Could be a big points swing today. Coldenhoff into fifth as he passed Bonacorsi. Gajser a quick lap and the gap to Prado was 2.9 seconds with three minutes and two laps remaining.
Herlings again catching Gajser, while Prado held a 3.7 second lead. The Turkish track hasn’t really led itself to close racing, but definitely a very tricky track to make up time for all the riders. Prado wins the moto and the Grand Prix and closes the points gap to Gajser, with two rounds remaining.
MXGP - Grand Prix Race 1 - Classification
1. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), 35:47.816; 2. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +0:04.345; 3. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), +0:06.639; 4. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:08.155; 5. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +0:29.523; 6. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:36.913; 7. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:38.009; 8. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +0:39.203; 9. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +0:49.743; 10. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:54.203; 11. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +0:55.668; 12. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +1:06.851; 13. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Beta), +1:13.343; 14. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:17.005; 15. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:17.643; 16. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:18.527; 17. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), +1:38.822; 18. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), +1:42.307; 19. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), +1:46.079; 20. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +1:51.562; 21. Nikolaj Skovgaard (DEN, KTM), -1 lap(s); 22. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, TM), -1 lap(s); 23. Ata Kuzu (TUR, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 24. Batuhan Demiryol (TUR, GASGAS), -6 lap(s);
MXGP - Grand Prix Race 2 - Classification
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GASGAS), 34:53.539; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, Honda), +0:02.565; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), +0:04.245; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, Kawasaki), +0:47.236; 5. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, Fantic), +0:49.529; 6. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, Kawasaki), +0:50.845; 7. Alberto Forato (ITA, Honda), +1:03.153; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, Yamaha), +1:09.983; 9. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), +1:10.906; 10. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, Husqvarna), +1:12.712; 11. Maxime Renaux (FRA, Yamaha), +1:16.553; 12. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, Honda), +1:19.232; 13. Valentin Guillod (SUI, Honda), +1:20.926; 14. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, Honda), +1:22.128; 15. Brent Van doninck (BEL, Honda), +1:38.211; 16. Brian Bogers (NED, Fantic), +1:39.401; 17. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, Beta), +1:53.133; 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, Husqvarna), -1 lap(s); 19. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 20. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), -1 lap(s); 21. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, TM), -1 lap(s); 22. Nikolaj Skovgaard (DEN, KTM), -1 lap(s); 23. Ata Kuzu (TUR, Yamaha), -4 lap(s); 24. Batuhan Demiryol (TUR, GASGAS), -9 lap(s);
MXGP - GP Classification
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 45 points; 2. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 40 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 40 p.; 4. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 32 p.; 5. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 32 p.; 6. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 31 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 31 p.; 8. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 29 p.; 9. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 27 p.; 10. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 21 p.; 11. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 20 p.; 12. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 17 p.; 13. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 17 p.; 14. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 15 p.; 15. Ivo Monticelli (ITA, BET), 12 p.; 16. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 11 p.; 17. Brent Van doninck (BEL, HON), 7 p.; 18. Kevin Brumann (SUI, HUS), 5 p.; 19. Josh Gilbert (GBR, KTM), 5 p.; 20. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 5 p.; 21. Panagiotis Kouzis (GRE, TM), 0 p.; 22. Nikolaj Skovgaard (DEN, KTM), 0 p.; 23. Ata Kuzu (TUR, YAM), 0 p.; 24. Batuhan Demiryol (TUR, GAS), 0 p.;
MXGP - World Championship Classification
1. Tim Gajser (SLO, HON), 910 points; 2. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 896 p.; 3. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 857 p.; 4. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, KAW), 632 p.; 5. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 566 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 550 p.; 7. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, FAN), 545 p.; 8. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, HON), 403 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 344 p.; 10. Brian Bogers (NED, FAN), 306 p.; 11. Andrea Bonacorsi (ITA, YAM), 299 p.; 12. Mattia Guadagnini (ITA, HUS), 283 p.; 13. Pauls Jonass (LAT, HON), 274 p.; 14. Jan Pancar (SLO, KTM), 236 p.; 15. Cornelius Toendel (NOR, KTM), 197 p.; 16. Benoit Paturel (FRA, YAM), 197 p.; 17. Isak Gifting (SWE, YAM), 166 p.; 18. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 136 p.; 19. Alberto Forato (ITA, HON), 117 p.; 20. Ben Watson (GBR, BET), 110 p.;