2019 MXGP Of Czech Republic | Jorge Prado GoPro Onboard
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INSTAGRAM | @jorgeprado612019 MXGP OF CZECH REPUBLIC | COMPLETE COVERAGE
At last weekend’s 2019 MXGP of Czech Republic, we noticed a GoPro camera was affixed to the top of Jorge Prado’s helmet, a first for the Red Bull KTM rider. We are always interested to see how top riders take on tracks around the world, especially layouts like Loket. If you follow the Monster Energy FIM Motocross World Championship, then you know that the Czech track is very unique with hard-packed soil that has a loose top, off-camber turns and elevation, and poppy jumps with landings that lead directly into turns.
We’re pretty sure that this is the first time that we’ve seen a GoPro video with the reigning MX2 world champion and there’s no better way to see his easygoing riding style in action than from his perspective. Press play and take notes, because we’re pretty sure everyone can learn a thing or two from the young Spaniard…
JORGE PRADO | 2019 MXGP OF CZECH REPUBLIC MX2 MOTO TWO
The MXGP series makes use of the same metal start grates of Supercross and Prado seems to be a master of the technique. He’s nabbed a slew of FOX Holeshots through the 2019 season and he powered away from the gate perfectly straight, took a brief glance to his left, safely closed off the inside line, and pulled out of the first turn ahead of the pack.
There’s constant talk of how differently the MXGP riders take to the track compared to the US competition, and that was very clear in Prado’s clips. The biggest takeaway was how little he revs the KTM 250 SX-F; he rolls on the throttle gradually and never whacks the throttle wide-open in the air before landing, a habit that Americans like Adam Cianciarulo have over practically every jump. Prado’s gear selection and rpm allow him to point the bike anywhere he wants, with no sense of sudden movements or unsettled line section. There’s some image stabilization in play with the GoPro camera but this footage is from Moto Two, when the track should it’s most brutal, and he seems to float over every imperfection with ease. Years ago Nick Wey told us the secret to rough downhills was to go down at a diagonal angle because it’s a “glancing blows” with the bumps and not a straight-on attack that requires all of the suspension’s stroke. Prado did just that on Loket’s elevation and it made some of the trickier areas seem like laps in first practice.
