Jorge Prado and Kay de Wolf Clinch World Titles at MXGP of Castilla La Mancha Finale

The 2024 FIM Motocross World Championship concluded under the scorching Spanish sun at the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha, where reigning World Champion Jorge Prado of Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing successfully defended his title. In front of his home fans, Prado secured his fourth World Championship with an overall victory, edging out the competition by a narrow ten-point margin after a season-long battle.

As the gate dropped for the first race, Prado’s trademark explosive start saw him grab the Fox Holeshot, putting distance between himself and the chasing pack, which included Jeremy Seewer, competing in his final GP for Kawasaki Racing Team.

Team Honda HRC's Tim Gajser, however, was quick to move into second, overtaking Seewer and Monster Energy Yamaha’s Andrea Bonacorsi. Gajser then began to pressure Prado, while Herlings, after running wide early in the race and receiving a three-position penalty, charged through the field, eventually crossing the line third before being relegated to sixth due to the penalty.

Meanwhile, Alberto Forato of Standing Construct Honda battled his way into 3rd, only to crash late in the race, allowing Seewer and Romain Febvre to finish third and fourth. Prado, despite the pressure, extended his lead to seven seconds before cruising to his 17th win of the season, entering the final race with a 12-point lead.

The final race followed a familiar pattern, with Prado again taking the holeshot—his 18th of the season. Gajser briefly ran off the track but avoided a penalty and resumed his battle for the podium. Herlings charged past Seewer early and looked poised to challenge for the win, with Febvre and Gajser also advancing past the Swiss rider.

A tense moment unfolded when Prado's rear wheel slipped on a downhill section, allowing Herlings to take the lead while Febvre and Gajser closed in. Fortunately for the reigning champ, there was no lasting issue, and he managed to bring the race home safely, securing the championship in front of an ecstatic home crowd.

The final standings saw Prado, Gajser, and Herlings finish first, second, and third, respectively, with Febvre and Seewer rounding out the top five.

Prado's 49th career GP win ties him with Gajser, and he becomes the first back-to-back MXGP World Champion since Gajser in 2020.

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Jorge Prado: "This is unbelievable. At the beginning of the season, I never imagined I’d be in this position. The second race felt like it would never end, but the support from the fans kept me going. Winning the world title here in Spain with my family and friends is just incredible. It’s been an amazing year, and I’m so grateful to everyone."

Tim Gajser: "We had a great season and a fantastic battle with Jorge and Jeffrey. Congratulations to Jorge on the title. I was close this year and gave it my all. I’m proud of the effort from my team, and the bike was incredible all season. A big thank you to everyone."

Jeffrey Herlings: "To finish third in the championship is something I’m happy with. Today, I made the podium, but we had some tough luck with decisions throughout the day. Jorge deserved the title—he was unbeatable with his starts this year. I’m already looking forward to next season."

Prado was given the national number 70 from his stint in Monster Energy AMA Supercross this past season. He will be looking to bring his talent to the United States in 2025 aboard the Monster Energy Kawasaki team.

The FIM MX2 World Motocross Championship came to a conclusion at the final round of the MXGP of Castilla La Mancha. After a season-long battle between Nestaan Husqvarna Factory Racing teammates Kay de Wolf and Lucas Coenen, the crown was finally claimed by the Dutch rider, de Wolf, who celebrated his 20th birthday in style by securing his first-ever MX2 World Championship title.

The RAM Qualifying Race gave a glimpse of Coenen’s pace, and with a 34-point lead heading into the final showdown, de Wolf had to focus on preserving his advantage. However, Coenen’s form put pressure on de Wolf, especially after a difficult start left him outside the top ten early in the first race. Meanwhile, Thibault Benistant of Monster Energy Yamaha MX2 claimed his third Fox Holeshot Award but was quickly overtaken by Coenen.

As the race unfolded, Simon Laengenfelder of Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing found himself in a battle for third with World Champion Andrea Adamo. Adamo worked his way through the field, eventually securing fourth place, while Laengenfelder held onto third. Despite intense competition, de Wolf managed to finish seventh, leaving him just 23 points ahead of Coenen going into the second and final race.

In race two, de Wolf made a bold statement, taking the Fox Holeshot Award and positioning himself among the front-runners. Coenen soon passed him, but de Wolf held firm, securing second place behind his teammate and solidifying his championship win. While de Wolf took home the championship, Lucas Coenen put on a masterclass, winning both races and finishing just 20 points shy of the title.

By the end of the day, Coenen had won his 10th career Grand Prix and finished second overall for the season, but it was de Wolf’s consistency and strategic riding that earned him the ultimate prize. De Wolf’s championship win marked Husqvarna’s first world title since 1999 and the first under its current Austrian ownership, capping a seven-year partnership with the factory squad.

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Kay de Wolf: “It felt pretty good. Lucas was on a good pace, so I let him go. I just controlled my own race and got this gold plate finally in my hands. Leading the whole season and finally getting this gold plate is unreal. I can't do it without this team. They've been working so hard for me. Also my friends, family, all my private sponsors, they've been amazing. Big thanks to them, and we're going to enjoy this one.”

Lucas Coenen: “The season was good, I got a lot of race wins, also had problems in the beginning of the season with the bike and with me. Overall, it's been a good end of the season. We know the problems we had, and now I’m looking forward to the MX of Nations.”

Simon Laengenfelder: “It was a tough year. I never made it to the top seven of the podium, which is a bit of a shame, but three bronze medals are not too bad, especially after coming back from a broken collarbone.”