A thrilling race saw Jorge Prado clinch his 42nd Grand Prix victory in Trentino while Simon Längenfelder secured a podium finish in MX2.
In the shadow of the majestic Dolomite mountains, the fourth round of the MXGP season unfolded amidst the electric atmosphere of the iconic Il Ciclamino track in Trentino, Italy. Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado led the way for the entire team in awesome style in Trentino – securing his 42nd Grand Prix victory in MXGP, while Simon Längenfelder finished third in MX2, and Valerio Lata dominated EMX 250 from start to finish.
During Saturday MXGP qualifying, Prado experienced an unusual technical hiccup when he lost the seat unit of his bike, and was forced to pit for mid-race repairs. This resulted in a 17th place start position for Sunday’s opening moto. Despite the middle-pack start gate position however, Prado showed nerves of steel; and rocketed through into the lead at turn one; claiming the FOX Holeshot Award. By the second lap, he had already built a 1.4-second lead over his closest rival, Romain Febvre. Prado set the fastest lap of the race at 1:49.435 on lap five.
A bar-to-bar game of cat and mouse ensued with Febvre, who eventually passed Prado, dropping him to second and later third after defending aggressively against Tim Gajser. Prado finished the first race in third place, an impressive feat considering Saturday’s early setback. Prado ripped into the second moto with a clear focus. He delivered a flawlessly managed performance, leading from start to finish and capturing another FOX Holeshot (his sixth of the season so far). This commanding victory marked his fourth consecutive Grand Prix win and his 42nd Grand Prix victory overall. What’s more, with 83 podiums to his name and maintaining a record of never finishing outside the top three this year, things are definitely looking on track for the defending champion!
In MX2, Simon Längenfelder’s performance during this weekend was a study in grit and determination. Despite a challenging start to the first race, where he found himself in 13th place after the first lap, Längenfelder showcased his speed by fighting his way to 8th position by mid-race. However, a crash on turn eight saw him momentarily drop back down to 10th. Undeterred, he continued to push, eventually securing a commendable 9th place finish.
With the scorching sun high in the afternoon sky – baking the rocky dirt – Längenfelder was determined to flip the script for his second moto at Trentino. After taking the lead in the opening lap, and winning the FOX holeshot for the second time this season, he left little doubt about his intentions. By lap three, Längenfelder was the fastest rider on the track, pulling a clear 3-second lead over the pack. His mastery of the track only grew as the race progressed; by the sixth lap, he had extended his advantage to five seconds, and from there, he never looked back. His performance was flawless, crossing the finish line an astonishing 13.5 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor. This victory marked his second race win of the season and the twelfth of his career.
Meanwhile, team mate Marc-Antoine Rossi impressed with a strong start in the first moto, quickly taking fourth position and maintaining a solid top-six presence throughout, ultimately finishing 6th. However, Sunday’s second moto presented significant challenges for Rossi, beginning with a multi-rider pileup at the first corner – relegating him to the back of the field. From 30th place, Rossi fought hard to climb up the ranks, showcasing his determination and resilience, though he only managed to finish in 20th position – giving him 13th overall in the final standings.
Valerio Lata delivered a masterclass performance in the EMX250 championship round at Trentino. Dominating from the outset, Lata set the fastest time in practice, immediately laying down a marker for his rivals. This blistering pace translated seamlessly into race day, where he controlled both races from the front, showcasing his awesome blend of race craft and raw speed. Race 1 saw Lata executing a perfect start, quickly establishing a lead that he never relinquished. His ability to manage the race pace while under pressure highlighted his growing maturity and racecraft. Heading into Race 2 with high confidence, he repeated his dominant performance, securing a clean pair of double wins on home soil. Lata’s team mate finished 10th overall – finishing 9th and 14th across both motos.
The Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing and MXGP paddock now enjoy a two week breather before moving to Agueda in north west Portugal on the 5th May.