Jorge Prado (KTM) on the winner’s prize: “It’s not about the money”

Jorge Prado won the 2026 SuperMotocross World Championship at Ridgedale last weekend. The SMX series combines Supercross and Motocross and rewards the champion with a prize of one million US dollars – the highest prize money in motocross.

Jorge Prado gewann den zweiten Lauf in Ridgedale und wurde SMX-Champion

Foto: Align Media

Haiden Deegan went ‘all in’

Haiden Deegan knew he had to beat Prado to still win the SMX title in the final playoff of the season. ‘Dangerboy’ Deegan had won the first race and felt he had the mental edge ahead of the start of the decisive second race. If he’d overtaken Prado and the Spaniard had finished in fourth place, Prado would have lost the championship.

Jorge Prado im Ziel

Foto: Align Media

Jorge Prado in Ridgedale

Foto: Align Media

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Prado: “I was just riding to win”

“I went into the second race to ride for the win,” explained Prado after the race. “I didn’t even consider any other option. I knew I’d only win the championship if I won the race. On some sections of the track I was faster than Deegan, whilst on others he managed to catch up again. So I couldn’t afford to get too comfortable at the front. When he was just 3 seconds behind me, I expected him to attack me straight away. Then we came up against a lapped rider who was riding right on the ideal line. I had to slam on the brakes in the 180-degree hairpin, and that’s when he dived in on the inside, right in front of my front wheel, but I didn’t crash and thought to myself: ‘Right, now you really have to go for it.’ Prado cut across Deegan’s line, retook the lead and won the race.

Jorge Prado gewann in Ridgedale den zweiten Lauf

Foto: Align Media

I’d expected him to attack me straight away.

Jorge Prado

Jorge Prado on Haiden Deegan’s attack

“I don’t really like these games,” explained Prado. “That’s not my style of racing, but he [Haiden Deegan] seems to enjoy it. Maybe he could get away with that against riders in other classes, but not with me. When you race like that, it usually ends badly… If you ride cleanly, you’ve got a better chance, in my opinion.”

“I’m not chasing the money the way he [Haiden Deegan] does. I race out of passion because I love this sport. After achieving a lot in the MXGP, I came to the US and proved that I can win here too. My passion drives me – and it’s what ultimately made me number one.”

Playoff 3 result, Ridgedale

1. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha, 1-2

2. Jorge Prado (E), KTM, 5-1

3. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 3-3

4. Ken Roczen (GER), Suzuki, 2-5

5. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha, 4-4

450 SMX Final Standings 2026

1. Jorge Prado (E), KTM, 158 points

2. Haiden Deegan (USA), Yamaha, 151, (-7)

3. Hunter Lawrence (AUS), Honda, 136, (-22)

4. Ken Roczen (Germany), Suzuki, 128, (-30)

5. Cooper Webb (USA), Yamaha, 123, (-35)