Following many sports, as we do, a clear pattern has emerged over the years, and that is the number of young people becoming Champions at an early age. Most sports, of course, have their junior categories, and they produce junior champions, but the more fascinating aspect is the number of younger athletes competing with adults. To be able to train and concentrate on their respective sports, whilst still attending school and just “growing up” is an achievement in itself.
So to our very own motorcycle arena. We have seen the meteoric rise of one @MarcMarquez93, who competed young, and then came to Moto GP to shatter the establishment, and now this season @FabioQuartararo20, a twice junior world champion, and now flying the flag for the young ‘uns in @MotoGP. Back in the day, the stand out was @fastfreddiespencer, the then youngest premier class world champion in 1983 at 21. Fast Freddie has that record still, his youngest GP win record being broken by, yeah, Marquez.
Now let’s get down in the dirt, and that means motocross, and the stand out here is @jorgeprado61 now eighteen and well, this guy is just up there with the best. Jorge is Spanish, but at an early age moved (with mum and dad and sister) to Belgium, so that he could train with the best. At age eight he had already won national titles, then in 2011, at the age of ten, he won the 65cc European and World Championship. So far, so good, winning in a junior category, and by this time attracting the big time MotoX bike company KTM, and with it, their Austrian counterpart sponsors Red Bull.
In 2015 at age fourteen, he won the 125cc European Championships and hit the big time. Still living in Belgium, this now multilingual schoolboy (Dutch English Spanish all perfect) was living the dream, his dream.
Moving up classes is never easy and many young stars flounder and fall, and Jorge moved to the MX2 class and it was a fight. So he trained harder, on and off the dirt. His work ethic never failing, this natural athlete (he is also a top swimmer) set his mind and body to the ultimate goal. As is the case this hard work paid off and in 2018 Jorge won the MX 2 World Championship, at 17 and against the adults in his class. He repeated this success in 2019 taking the MX2 title once again, and in convincing form.
In 2020 Jorge will compete in the 450 GP class, the premier division. So watch out older adults!
Right now though, Jorge has another battle. Whilst practising on the bigger bike this last week, he had a fall and has a fractured femur, which has been pinned and stabilised. Broadcasting from his hospital bed, he is as upbeat as ever. We wish him the speediest and most thorough recovery.
What is outstanding about this personable, charismatic young guy, is he does it all with a smile. He says MotoX is his life, and he clearly intends to enjoy every moment of it.
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Every ride should be an adventure… we want to see where you’re riding… @bikedirectory and we will feature your pics and add your location to our directory.
We will be adding major UK motorsports calendars and various amazing events to the website before the new year so and don’t forget to follow and/or like us! we wouldn’t want you to miss a thing.
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#sixt1 #motocross
Author: Martin Northern
Founder of Bike Directory
