DIRT NEWS

Photo : Juan Pablo Acevedo

Jorge Prado secured the 2024 MXGP championship at the MXGP of Castilla la Mancha , becoming a four-time world champion at the final race of the season . Prado ’ s 2024 championship campaign crowned him as a backto-back MXGP Champion , with 11 Grand Prix wins and 17 podium finishes , and 18 holeshots . Prado clinched the title in front of a home crowd on the final race on Sunday of the MXGP of Castilla la Mancha , capping off an incredible weekend where he won Saturday ’ s qualifying race , and then locked in 1-4 finishes across both motos . Prado secured the holeshot and victories in the first moto , and then a rode to a well-managed fourth place in the second moto on the 1650m clay-like hard pack of the Circuito Motor Ranch . Prado ’ s journey to the title in 2024 was far from straightforward . Early in the season , he established a solid lead , dominating the first four races , but mid-season challenges saw his closest rival , Tim Gajser , close the gap and briefly snatching the lead . However a blistering

performance at the penultimate round in China from Prado put the Spaniard back on top with the Red Plate in hand , and from there he never looked back . It was a season defined by sheer grit , perseverance , and racecraft , as the Prado secured wins in over half the season ’ s Grand Prix , to beat championship runner-up Tim Gajser ( Honda ) by 10 points , ( 996pts to 986pts ). In all Prado now has a total of 49 Grand Prix wins and 95 podiums in his career across MXGP and MX2 , placing him among the greats in the sport . Jorge Prado : “ I almost don ’ t know what to say - I ’ ve got the title here in Spain , and it ’ s just incredible ! It ’ s been a great year , and I think the team and I truly deserve this title after all the work we ’ ve put in . At the start of the season , I never imagined being in this position , but today everything just clicked . That second moto felt super long , but crossing the finish line was the best feeling . So much goes on behind the scenes with the team to get results like this , and I ’ m so grateful to take home my fourth world title here in front of family , friends , and fans . Thank you to everyone for the amazing support - it ’ s been an

94 KIWI RIDER