Image: Octopi Media.

A promising start to San Diego only converted to a 13th-place result in the main event for 450SX revelation Jorge Prado, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider determined to learn from what he labelled as a ‘struggle’ after an uncustomary mid-pack start.

All eyes were on the 25-year-old to see whether he could continue his podium form from A1’s Monster Energy Supercross season-opener, with P2 in both combined 450SX qualifying and his heat race indicating he was on target for another standout weekend.

Listed ninth after lap one of the main event, Prado was then shuffled back a couple of additional positions as he failed to find a rhythm, later indicating that he was being caught up in the pace of riders around him, which ultimately led to finishing outside of the top 10.

“Round two was a positive day,” Prado explained. “Even though the main event didn’t go as well as I would have liked, I was still P2 in qualifying and then was also second in the heat race, so up until then, things were going very well. Then in the main, I missed the start, and after that I was riding tight.

“I didn’t really ride like myself, I would say, and it was a bit of a struggle – I kind of fell into some other riders’ pace around me, so I’ll need to learn from this, and again, it’s a good learning experience to be better in the future.”

Prado’s pace was evident at round two, as proven in both qualifying and his heat race. The four-time world champion’s 3-13 results despite minimal Supercross experience now place him ninth in the 450SX point standings.