Is Jorge Prado about to drop a huge bombshell and join Honda for a return to the MX2 class? Ermm… no. A Spanish media source RideTwice.com is claiming that Prado is poised to leave the De Carli GasGas MXGP team, and head up the 114 Motorsport team’s MX2 campaign on a Monster-backed Honda. But December 28 is the DIA DE LOS SANTOS INOCENTES – the Day of the Innocent Saints which is the equivalent of April Fool’s Day in Spain.

The story said that while GasGas has already announced 20-year-old Prado is staying on a 450 for De Carli, Monster Energy today paid the financial penalty for Prado to be released so he can race the new Honda CRF250R. And today is December 28 – the Spanish April Fools Day where fake news is rife.

But the 114 Motorsport team has already revealed its team for 2022. Its MX2 star – Spaniard Ruben Fernandez – is getting a factory Honda CRF450RW. On its MX2 bike is EMX250 up-and-comer Hakon Fredriksen.

The Spanish website says Prado’s mechanic Bart Dirkx will stay with Prado and make the leap to Honda too. And that Monster is insisting Prado and Fernandez both race the Monster Cup in the USA as part of the deal which is said to have cost 2.6 million Euros to pay off KTM. This money was paid today (December 28 – Day of the Innocent Saints day) in a co-ordinated move by Monster and Prado’s new manager, says the Spanish media source.

Prado has already won two world MX2 titles in 2018-19 before moving up to the MXGP class, so according to the rules would not be able to go back. “Riders who have won two FIM MX2 World Championships or reached the maximum age of 23 are not eligible to participate in the MX2 class,” says the CMS rule 2.29.