While the MXGP championship seems set to land in the hands of Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing rider Jorge Prado, the battle for Grand Prix victories and race wins is still wide open.
Two men who are showing the most speed are Spanish rider Prado and his biggest rival in the championship chase, French rider Romain Febvre (Kawasaki Racing Team, pictured here), and the two men will again go head-t0-head at this weekend’s Turkish GP, the 17th round of 20 in the series.
Prado, who holds the leader’s red plate, and has done since the opening round of the championship in Argentina some six months ago, is looking forward to getting back to some hard pack circuits and possibly winning the MXGP world title with a victory or two.
“I am excited to go to Turkey,” Prado said. “Back to the hard pack. I am riding also good in the sand, but I just can’t make it happen. I want to keep the momentum going into these last three rounds in Türkiye, Maggiora and Great Britain. I am excited, the championship is looking very good.
“We are almost there, but hopefully we stay on two weeks until the end of the season. We don’t have the gold plate yet, just a couple more races. Such a tough season, many races and hard to stay consistent and also with your energy. I have won a race at nearly every Grand Prix. Always on the podium.”
As for Febvre, he is probably in the best form of his career and only setbacks have stopped him taking the championship down to the final GP of the season, as he did in 2021 against Jeffrey Herlings and Tim Gajser. Minor injuries have set him back, and he didn’t mind reminding us about the rough road he has had to his current form.
“Many guys compare the years before and the years after,” Febvre said.
“But there are many things that play in a rider’s career, or his season. Many things have changed, working with Kevin (Strijbos) we are doing a really good job and he brings me something I was looking for. The bike works well, and it is all working together. Physically I am in good shape, and I am getting good starts.
“If you miss the start and you are 10th, the race can be different. I had good years, and many things happen, like in practice and most of the guys know what happens in the races, but not what happens outside the racing. I can have a bad week and win the Grand Prix.
“I am happy in my position and second in the championship, but I missed a round, I knocked myself out in a race, I had a shoulder injury nobody knew about and for me, this year has been awesome.”
So now, the final three rounds of the 2023 MXGP Championship, first in Türkiye, before going into Italy and Great Britain.
While it is the Spaniard with the championship points lead and Febvre with the momentum of one victory after another, both will stand tall at the end of the season and both can be proud of their achievements.
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 16 of 20:
MXGP – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Jorge Prado (ESP, GAS), 821 points; 2. Romain Febvre (FRA, KAW), 729 p.; 3. Jeremy Seewer (SUI, YAM), 652 p.; 4. Glenn Coldenhoff (NED, YAM), 600 p.; 5. Ruben Fernandez (ESP, HON), 542 p.; 6. Calvin Vlaanderen (NED, YAM), 498 p.; 7. Jeffrey Herlings (NED, KTM), 456 p.; 8. Alberto Forato (ITA, KTM), 414 p.; 9. Valentin Guillod (SUI, HON), 295 p.; 10. Maxime Renaux (FRA, YAM), 260 p.
MX2 – World Championship Top 10 Classification:
1. Andrea Adamo (ITA, KTM), 705 points; 2. Liam Everts (BEL, KTM), 633 p.; 3. Jago Geerts (BEL, YAM), 603 p.; 4. Simon Laengenfelder (GER, GAS), 595 p.; 5. Lucas Coenen (BEL, HUS), 511 p.; 6. Kay de Wolf (NED, HUS), 501 p.; 7. Roan Van De Moosdijk (NED, HUS), 462 p.; 8. Thibault Benistant (FRA, YAM), 462 p.; 9. Kevin Horgmo (NOR, KAW), 460 p.; 10. Rick Elzinga (NED, YAM), 325 p.
Photo courtesy Kawasaki
Words by Geoff Meyer
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