Jorge Prado posted the fastest time in qualification for Round 6 of the SuperMotocross World Championship, but a hard crash in the second session sent him off the track early to have his shoulder evaluated.
Prado was x-rayed by the Alpinestars Medical crew and showed no sign of a break, but after lining up for Heat 2 and taking the gate drop, he realized he would not be healthy enough to race.
UPDATE: Prado to skip Arlington
Prado withdrew from the heat, and the team immediately announced that he would not line up for the Last Chance Qualifier.
Prado is new to the Red Bull KTM team this season and his performance has been much better than when he was racing for Kawasaki in 2025. Prado has one podium and two top-fives.
But the team is still learning one another.
Following the race, team manager Ian Harrison had this to report: “Jorge crashed in practice there and at first, like anything, you always feel the stinger, you are worried. He has had an injury on that shoulder before, so we had it checked out in the medical center and everything looked okay other than swelling and aches and pains. But on a track like tonight, you have to have everything working properly. So we asked him to give it a try, see how it went, but I said if he didn’t feel like he was up to it or if it wasn’t going to be safe, then we are not in a title fight with him. He’s doing an amazing job so far this season, getting better each week. So that was his option, and he decided he’ll have it checked out again and maybe get some therapy on it, and I’m sure he’ll be back next week, but it doesn’t look like there’s any major injury.”
The decision to sit out the main event was not difficult, according to Harrison. Prado entered Round 6 in Seattle seventh in the championship hunt, 33 points behind Hunter Lawrence.
“In his case, [the decision] was easier,” Harrison said. “If you’re fighting for the championship, then it’s tough. You have to deal with it, you’ve got to suck it up and go, but he’s not in that position right now. This was his 12th Supercross in his career, so there’s no reward in having him crash again and really get hurt. So that’s how we looked at it tonight.”
Christian Craig was also unable to line up for the LCQ.
Last week, RJ Hampshire was forced to retire from the round after suffering flu-like symptoms.
