Image: Supplied.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado believes he made a ‘clear step’ in his successful MX2 World Championship defence this season, where he’s currently claimed 14 overall victories from 16 rounds.

The Spaniard wrapped his second consecutive title with two rounds to spare at the weekend’s MXGP of Sweden, which saw him experience his first loss of the season, with his only other blemish this year coming at the MXGP of Great Britain, where he completely sat out the event with a shoulder injury.

“It has been a perfect season,” Prado declared. “I won every GP I raced up until now and many motos and many qualifying races. I was feeling very good this year with the bike set-up and physically. My start was OK in the second moto but then I made a small crash and bent the clutch lever.

“I had to deal with a race without a clutch and passing riders was tough in the beginning. I had to get used to it. I got better and better and at the end of the moto I made very good laps. I was so close to getting Adam on the last lap. I think it was one of the best races of the year and I felt very comfortable in that second moto.

“I liked the track a lot and it was prepped very well this weekend. Overall I think I made a clear step from last year to this year – I was riding better. I’m very happy – no mistakes – it’s important to be like that and to keep consistent in a long championship.”

The 18-year-old, who recently rigned a multi-year contract extension with KTM, will be forced to graduate to the premier class in 2020.