Kiwi Rider December 2023 Vol.2 | Page 16

DIRT NEWS

PRADO TO TAKE SX TILT

MXGP champion Jorge Prado is setting off for all-new heights in early 2024 with the confirmation the Spanish ace will take part in the first rounds of the AMA Supercross series . A two-week shakedown in Southern California training at RD Field was all it took for the defending MXGP World Champion to make the decision to try his hand at AMA Supercross . Now he is set to make a fascinating cameo appearance across the opening three rounds of the 2024 season . Partnering with the Troy Lee Designs / Red Bull / GASGAS Factory Racing Team , the Spanish sensation is all set to take part in the Anaheim 1 , San Francisco and San Diego supercross next month with his weapon of choice being the GasGas MC 450F . In what will be his first-ever American Supercross start , Prado will ride straight into the premier 450SX ranks on debut . No pressure ... Fresh from clinching the 2023 FIM Motocross World Championship in the MXGP category , which was a milestone achievement for both himself and GASGAS with the Davide De Carlimanaged squad , he had expressed his lifelong dream of sampling the sport of Supercross – and potentially making a 450SX start – in the United States . “ Since I started riding my dream has always been to one day race in the U . S ., specifically to race Supercross ”, explains Prado . “ I have watched it my whole life on television and always thought it must be great to race under lights with a huge crowd and atmosphere ! And more specifically , it must be great to race at an iconic stadium like Angel Stadium . I was lucky enough in 2015 , while visiting and training in the U . S ., to go to Anaheim 1 – it was a great experience and made me want to try it even more . So given I won the MXGP title this year and am totally healthy and looking for a new challenge , I thought it was the perfect time in my career to come and train in USA properly to prepare for a few Supercross races . I don ’ t want to waste another whole year wondering if I could or

16 KIWI RIDER