BACK IN CONTROL: PRADO WINS AND RETAKES THE RED PLATE IN CHINA.
Jorge Prado won the MXGP of China and reclaimed the Red Plate, while Simon Längenfelder P3 in MX2; amidst an intense hot, humid and shortened event in Shanghai.
Back on top, back in control, and back with the Red Plate with just one round to go! These are the headlines after Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado conquered the hot and humid MXGP of China to claim a significant 2-1 result and reclaim the top position in the standings.
Sending a clear message to his rivals, Prado’s awesome performance in China now puts him 7 points ahead of his nearest championship rival, Tim Gajser, making a championship-winning finish for 2024 within reach.
Due to the threat of a typhoon, the MXGP of China’s schedule was compressed, removing qualifying heats and reducing the race program to just one day. On top of that, the hot and humid temperatures, combined with super loamy track conditions, posed a significant challenge around the 1,620m circuit.
However, Prado shrugged this off like a true champion. In the first moto, the Spaniard burst out of the gates into P2, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats with a battle against Romain Febvre and later Jeffrey Herlings. Crossing the line in second position, Prado’s finish allowed him to gain crucial points, while Tim Gajser struggled with multiple crashes.
In the second moto, Prado cranked up the heat even further by taking the holeshot and maintaining the lead for the rest of the race. Despite pressure from Gajser, who eventually finished second, Prado secured a commanding victory.
It was also great news in Moto 2 as Simon Längenfelder finished the Chinese event with a hard-fought third-place finish after 2-3 finishes across both motos. After grabbing pole position following timed practice, Längenfelder held second place in commanding style throughout the first moto, just behind Lucas Coenen.
In the second moto, Längenfelder delivered a strong and consistent performance, securing a third-place finish. He started the race in P3 and held his position throughout the majority of the laps, battling against the frontrunners. The German rider then briefly moved into second place midway through the race but ultimately finished behind Lucas Coenen, who took the win, and Kay de Wolf, who claimed second. This result added another podium finish to Längenfelder’s season, demonstrating his consistent form in the championship fight.
Both Prado and Längenfelder’s performances at the MXGP of China mean both Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing riders are in the best possible position to fight for championship positions as the 2024 FIM World Motocross season reaches its epic conclusion at the MXGP of Castilla la Mancha in Cozar, Spain, on September 29th. Stay tuned!
MXGP – #1 – Jorge Prado: „The MXGP of China is done, and it was a great weekend for me. I went P1 in practice, then finished second in Moto 1 and first in Moto 2. It was very tough physically – very humid, with high temperatures. After the first moto, I gave it my all and focused on finishing the weekend as strong as possible. We did that, and now we have the red plate and a seven-point lead with one round left. This gives us a dream opportunity at the end of the season, and I’m so excited for the final round in Spain. I don’t think anyone expected us to come out of this GP with the red plate. We worked really hard on the bike this weekend, and I think my riding was great. We got the points we were aiming for, and I’m super, super happy – I still can’t believe it! Let’s get the title in Spain!”
MX2 – #516 – Simon Längenfelder: „We had a different format this weekend because of the typhoon coming in, but I enjoyed the format all the same. The track was great with high speed, and big jumps. The conditions were super tough with the heat and humidity. I tried to stay consistent and fight as hard as I could in both motos. Finishing with P2 in the first moto and P3 in the second is great and of course to get another podium feels great, and it puts me in a strong position heading into the final round. Now, I’m focused on giving everything I have in Spain.“
MXGP of China Results:
MXGP – Overall:
1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 47pts
2. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki) 45pts
3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 38pts
9. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna) 24pts
MXGP – Moto One:
1. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki)
2. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
9. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna)
MXGP – Moto Two:
1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS)
2. Tim Gajser (Honda)
3. Romain Febvre (Kawasaki)
4. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM)
9. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna)
MXGP – Standings:
1. Jorge Prado (GASGAS) 943pts
2. Tim Gajser (Honda) 936pts
3. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 895pts
12. Mattia Guadagnini (Husqvarna) 307pts
MX2 – Overall:
1. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 50pts
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 42pts
3. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS) 42pts
5. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 31pts
9. Liam Everts (KTM) 22pts
DNS. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 0pts
MX2 – Moto One:
1. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna)
2. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS)
3. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna)
4. Liam Everts (KTM)
6. Andrea Adamo (KTM)
DNS. Sacha Coenen (KTM)
MX2 – Moto Two:
1. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna)
2. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna)
3. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS)
5. Andrea Adamo (KTM)
17. Liam Everts (KTM)
DNS. Sacha Coenen (KTM)
MX2 – Standings:
1. Kay de Wolf (Husqvarna) 915pts
2. Lucas Coenen (Husqvarna) 879pts
3. Simon Längenfelder (GASGAS) 811pts
4. Liam Everts (KTM) 749pts
6. Andrea Adamo (KTM) 632pts
8. Sacha Coenen (KTM) 456pts
19. Marc-Antoine Rossi (GASGAS) 122pts
Text/Bild: GasGas