Prado back in control with MXGP of China victory

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.

• After an overall win and 2-1 finishes at the MXGP of China, Jorge Prado now leads the championship by 7 points over Tim Gajser, setting up a potential championship victory in the final round​.
• The MXGP of China race program was condensed due to a typhoon threat, adding to the challenge of the hot and humid conditions eliminating qualifying heats and reducing the entire race program to a single day.
• Simon Längenfelder secured a third-place finish overall with 2-3 moto results, maintaining his third lace championship position overall

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!