Image: Octopi Media.

A seventh-place result didn’t match the ride of Jorge Prado at Anaheim 2, the Red Bull KTM rider suggested post-race after moving forward through the pack from outside of the top 10 at the conclusion of the opening lap.

Spanish revelation Prado, 25, recorded the sixth-fastest time in qualifying, before leading wire-to-wire in his heat to earn his second race win of the new season.

A poor start to the main event, however, had the four-time world champion positioned as far back as 11th during the opening stages, with a subsequent charge seeing him climb to seventh place – and within striking distance of the top-five – by the time the checkered flag flew.

“I got cut off at the start [of the main event] and then had to come through the pack, which was something new for me,” Prado recalled. “I was happy that I was actually able to pass riders and get super-close to the top-five at the end.

“[I’m] happy with my riding, happy with the bike, and it was a super-good experience at A2. I think the result didn’t show how good I was riding, but I’m happy. San Diego was very similar to today, and I just couldn’t go through [the pack], I just felt super-uncomfortable.

“Today, I felt more racey in the middle of the pack, I could push through better and pass riders, so I think it’s more about experience – I learn quick, I can already see a progression from last week, so we’ll keep working.”

He identified his heat race form as a precursor to further main event success, with experience in running up front the target as his Monster Energy Supercross 450SX career continues to evolve.

“I think before you actually start winning main events, you have to start with the heat races,” he continued. “I think if I can get that consistently, get more comfortable, and more experience with starting first and winning those, I think that will translate to the main event soon.”

Prado holds a 3-13-7 scorecard to open his 2026 campaign, which situates him ninth overall – only five points from P5 – as the series heads to Houston this weekend for the first Triple Crown of the year.