Image: Octopi Media.

MXGP champion Jorge Prado has suggested that ‘we found something on the bike that helped me’ after the puzzling Monster Energy Kawasaki recruit equaled his season-best result of fifth overall at the weekend’s Ironman National.

As riders returned from a two-week break following Washougal, Prado was one of the riders who showed signs of progress since last time out, posting the fourth-fastest time in the morning’s 450MX qualifying session.

A 5-6 moto scorecard and time spent battling toward the front of the pack was a welcome turnaround for the 24-year-old Spaniard, with fifth overall a solid rebound from a lowly P14 finish at the previous round.

“To be honest, I’ve been riding Supercross during the break, getting ready for SMX,” said Prado post-race. “Apparently this morning we found something on the bike that helped me quite a lot, so I think from here we can start working in a good direction – it was a good step, and hopefully we can keep building towards the front.

“I have been struggling a lot, and it looks like today is the first day that I started riding more like myself, even though I am far from it, but I know that I am working hard with the team, and hopefully we can get it done soon.”

Prado had previously posted a P5 result in the fifth round of the series at Southwick, before a difficult stretch over the following three events. He currently sits sixth overall in the Pro Motocross point-standings with two rounds left to contest in his first American-based campaign.