Today (13 May 2022), Red Bull GasGas Factory Racing MXGP rider Jorge Prado has been confirmed to be back in this weekend for the MXGP of Sardegna in Riola Sardo.
Riola was the venue of Tim Gajser’s toughest race of the 2021 season last year, when the Slovenian finished 12th overall a week after breaking his collarbone. This year, it will be Prado’s turn to suffer in the deep sand of Sardegna.
Yesterday, we reported that Mattia Guadagnini will be stepping up to the MXGP class from this weekend in Riola Sardo, and speculated that one factor in the move could be that the dislocated shoulder that kept Prado out of the MXGP of Italy in Maggiora last weekend would also keep the Spaniard sidelined for the Sardo round.
However, this latest news from GasGas disproves that, and, instead, proves that there will be two GasGas MC 450Fs on the MXGP gate for the first time in 2022 this weekend.
“I am very excited to return to racing with Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing this weekend,” Prado said ahead of the MXGP of Sardegna. “ I rode earlier this week and my shoulder felt strong enough to race, so we will head to Riola Sardo and try to take as many points as possible,” the double MX2 World Champion continued.
Prado will return to World Championship action with a deficit in the championship points to Tim Gasjer of 116 points after the #243 HRC rider went 1-1 for a perfect 50 points in Maggiora last week.
Riola Sardo also has to be one of the toughest and most physically draining tracks to make a return from injury at. While the sand in Riola is not as deep, and does not get as rough, as that of Lommel, the physical challenge is added to in Sardegna by the heat. Hailing from Spain, Prado is of course no stranger to the sunlight, and he has also proven in Lommel, and even earlier this year in Kegums, that his credentials in the sand are strong. But, this is surely going to be a weekend to suffer for the #61, just as it was for Gajser a year ago.
