Source: Supplied.

Words: Adam Wheeler

Jorge Prado was undoubtedly one of the happiest athletes leaving the idyllic climes of Argentina this week. The 16-year-old – the youngest rider in grand prix – grabbed both holeshots at the third round of the series in Neuquen and grasped second place overall for his first podium appearance of the year and his second after just six MX2 starts to date.

Like several of his peers – Jeremy Van Horebeek and Evgeny Bobryshev to name just two – Prado has elected to travel to the United States instead of returning to Europe for almost two weeks of riding and training on American soil ahead of the relatively short jaunt to Leon, Mexico next week.

Prado, who has a multi-year contract exclusively with the KTM factory (meaning he can be moved around the works teams), has made no secret of his desire to attempt the AMA supercross series and trained extensively in California in the winter of 2015 using the resources of the Murrieta-based KTM HQ.

He could move stateside as early as 2018 but is rumoured to be looking at the 2019 campaign after accumulating more experience at the highest level of grand prix.

Arguably Spain’s brightest talent to emerge in MXGP, Prado dealt with the aftermath of illness at Neuquen and will be preparing to be 100 percent and charge after more glory on the 250 SX-F with two hard-pack courses to come at Leon and then the grand prix of Trentino (Italy) at Pietramurata on Easter weekend.

“I will have some good riding in California and some fun also,” said Prado. “When I went last year I came back to Europe with more speed and I think it will help me for next week. I have to give thanks to KTM because I think all what we want to do with our planning would be so difficult without this ‘orange’ family.”