Prado Potential

Jorge Prado’s results this summer have been underwhelming, especially for a multi-time MXGP champ, but things looked like they might be taking a turn for the better at Ironman, where Prado went 5-6 for fifth overall. Prado is certainly capable of more, but that result is much better than most of the rides he’s had so far in Pro Motocross. Afterward Prado credited bike changes for his improvement. Could Prado and Monster Energy Kawasaki have finally found a setup that will allow Prado to show his potential? -Hansel 

450 Title Math

Despite incurring a one lap penalty for accidentally jumping the gate last week (which resulted in 17th place in the first moto), Jett Lawrence still holds a 47-point lead over Hunter Lawrence in second. That means that if Jett is able to increase that lead by just three points at Unadilla, which seems more likely than not, he’ll clinch the championship a round early. Eli Tomac is still technically in contention in third, but he’s 88 points back of Jett and isn’t really a factor. Look for Jett to try to wrap up his second 450 AMA Pro Motocross Championship this weekend. -Hansel

250 Title Math

Jo Shimoda is the only rider Haiden Deegan hasn’t mathematically eliminated from the title fight in the 250 Class, but he’s barely hanging on. Deegan leads Shimoda by 51 points with just four motos remaining, which means all Deegan has to do clinch the championship one round early is not give up more than one point to Shimoda. Deegan has six wins, which is more than Shimoda can match, so if Deegan ends Unadilla with a 50-point lead (or more) he wins the title. -Hansel 

Up and Down

Jordon Smith has had some great motos this summer, but unfortunately, he rarely seems to have two in a row, leaving him with overall finishes that haven’t reflected just how good he is. At Ironman, for example, he was sixth in the first moto but tangled with another rider early in the second moto and crashed. He took 19th in that moto for 12th overall. Smith is capable of a much better overall result; he just needs to put two solid motos together. Can he do it at Unadilla? -Hansel

Return

Dylan Ferrandis was back at Ironman and scored impressive 7-8 moto scores for seventh overall. Dylan was out with a leg injury from supercross but said the time off the bike allowed his whole body to recover and he is feeling great on the bike. How will he do this weekend at Unadilla, a place he normally does good at? -Sarah Whitmore