Jason Anderson and Jorge Prado faced a challenging Round 2 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross on Saturday night in San Diego, with the duo battling through a highly competitive field in the 450SX Main Event to finish 12th and 13th, respectively.
Both riders showed determination during qualifying, with Anderson securing sixth and Prado finishing 13th overall. Anderson started strong in the first Heat Race, jumping to fourth off the gate and quickly advancing to third, where he remained to secure a solid gate pick for the main event.
In 450SX Heat 2, Prado started in the Top 10 but was involved in a collision with another rider, dropping him to 13th. Despite a valiant effort to recover, he missed a qualifying spot by one position, finishing 10th. Forced to race in the Last Chance Qualifier, Prado dominated with a clean holeshot and led wire-to-wire, earning his place in the main event.
In the 450SX Main Event, Anderson initially positioned himself in 10th and worked his way up to seventh. However, the effects of an illness earlier in the week caught up with him, leading to a drop in pace. He ultimately finished in 13th place.
“I didn’t have a great start and ran into some issues during the main event,” Anderson shared. “I’ve been sick this week, and it really got to me by the end of the night. My energy was fading, especially in the last few laps. I’m happy to have made it out healthy, and I’m looking forward to being stronger for next weekend.”
Prado, starting with a 19th gate pick on the far outside, faced a tough challenge. Despite a strong jump off the line, he was pushed wide in the first turn. The MXGP World Champion methodically worked his way through the field, ultimately finishing side by side with his teammate in 12th.
“I think there are positives to take from the weekend, even if the result wasn’t ideal,” Prado said. “I was riding well in the heat race and made good moves, but around Lap 3, I went down with another rider and had to recover from way back. I won the LCQ with a holeshot, but the gate pick for the main event wasn’t great. I had a decent rhythm, felt better than last week, and am learning a lot—especially in the whoops, which are new to me. It’s all about gaining experience and getting more comfortable. I’ll work to improve my results next weekend.”
Anderson and Prado will aim to turn their fortunes around at Anaheim 2 this coming weekend, hoping to capitalise on their learnings and deliver stronger results.
