2023 FIM Motocross World Champions crowned at Maggiora Italian GP showdown
By Team TMX on 18th Sep 23
Fans at Maggiora for the MXGP of Italy witnessed world champions crowned as Jorge Prado clinched the MXGP for Red Bull GASGAS and then home favourite Andrea Adamo secured the MX2 series for Red Bull KTM.
Entering the penultimate round of the series with a 67-point lead, all Prado needed to do was ensure that closest challenger Romain Febvre didn’t take score more than 17 points than him. Febvre kept the pressure on by winning the MXGP Qualifying Race but a moto one DNF for the Frenchman and a win for Prado ensured he had enough of a points lead to take the title after the day’s opening moto.
"I am so happy,” said the 22-year-old Spaniard. “I am the new world champion. So much hard work has gone into this, from myself and the team, and I knew that I could make this happen. I have held the red plate since round one – I cannot ask for anything better. This is a dream."
A couple of hours later and the MX2 title was settled when Adamo crossed the line in third place and teammate Liam Everts failed to score after crashing heavily with several laps to go.
“I cannot believe it – this really is like a dream,” expressed Adamo immediately after the race. “Thank you to everyone. I came to Maggiora not thinking about the GP win and mainly about the first chance to take the title.
“I’m really happy with my motos. They were very consistent even though I didn’t have the best starts. It wasn’t easy but I wasn’t thinking about the bigger picture too much and just wanted to enjoy the races.
“I saw Liam when I came through to start the last lap and that wasn’t so nice but this is part of the sport. I hope he is fine.
“An unbelievable day for me. Maybe I got lucky at times this season but every single race I tried to do the maximum I could – sometimes it is P2, sometimes P5 and sometimes P1. Nothing more.
“I can accept when someone is faster than me and I held this strategy all season – now I’m world champion!”
Everts’ DNF sets up an interesting final round at Matterley Basin as Jago Geerts (Monster Energy Yamaha), Everts and Red Bull GASGAS runner Simon Laengenfelder go into the MXGP of Great Britain all in contention of securing the runner-up spot in the series.
Geerts leads the way on 706 points while Everts and Laengenfelder are tied on 702. Only two of the three will leave Matterley Basin with an FIM Medal so it’s sure to be dramatic. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said in the MXGP class where disaster aside the top-10 positions look fairly locked in. One man who can move a few places higher is Tim Gajser (HRC Honda) who will be looking to displace Mattia Guadagnini (Red Bull GASGAS) and Benoit Paturel (De Baets Yamaha) although even if he does that will only place him 11th in the final championship classification.
Behind them, sole MXGP Brit Ben Watson (MRT Beta) is embroiled in a battle with Brian Bogers (Standing Construct Honda) for 15th in the series. Seven points separate the pair with currently MIA Mitch Evans (KRT Kawasaki) just one ahead of Ben so 14th is up for grabs. He doesn’t necessarily need your support but he’d sure appreciate it so get yourselves to Matterley Basin and give him a cheer.
British wildcards are yet to be confirmed but we’ll give you a yell when the FIM gives us a heads up. Tickets for the event are available here.
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