Thomas Covington scored his first-ever MX2 moto and overall win in Mexico.

Discussion in 'Racing' started by ray_ray, Sep 14, 2015.

  1. ray_ray Mini-Sponsor

    Location:
    The Philippines
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    08\013 WR250, 010 TC250, 012 TC250
    My sombrero is off to this young American rider and good luck at the USGP this weekend ... The states have many good talented kids ... They only need adults around them of the same stature.


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    After a standout career as an amateur in the U.S., Thomas Covington decided to take the road less traveled and go directly to the FIM Motocross World Championship series after graduating from Loretta Lynn’s in 2013. In 2013, Thomas finished up his amateur career with solid top five performances in Open Pro Sport (5th) and 250A (4th), but rather than chase the American dream of racing Supercross under the lights in big stadiums, Thomas chased a different dream: becoming an American World Champion.

    Out of the gate the Monster Energy/Kawasaki rider looked poised to make an impression immediately when he finished 3rd in his second-ever MX2 World Championship moto in Qatar, but that success would take nearly two full years to repeat. For the rest of 2014, the rookie would finish every moto outside of the top ten and he would finish his rookie World Championship campaign in 17th.

    Instead of throwing in the towel on his World Championship dreams, Thomas returned with the same team in 2015. While the American was still not lighting the world on fire, Thomas has been a consistent top ten guy all year long. For whatever reason, though, Thomas’ has struggled on the European tracks again in ’15, but the #64 has shown his potential with two 4th overalls in Thailand and Argentina and his first-ever overall win last weekend in Mexico. It was a huge win for Thomas, and with his home Grand Prix at Glen Helen just a week away, it could not have come at a better time.

    After Thomas’ win, he sat down for a quick press conference Q & A and MotoXAddicts was in the house to record what the American had to say. You can hear from Mr. Covington below.

    Thomas, congrats on your first-ever overall MX2 victory. You must be happy right now.
    Yeah, beyond stoked! I didn’t know I had the overall win until I was walking up to the podium and I was asking, “Where should I stand?” I didn’t even know I won the overall. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s something I haven’t had in a long time, so it’s awesome.

    There were two very different conditions for the races today. Very very muddy in race one where you finished 4th. A lot dryer in race two. In the second race, you got into the lead quite early on, but what were your thoughts initially when you started leading? Did those thoughts change as you neared the checkered flag?
    Yeah, at the beginning when I passed the number 10 [Calvin Vlaanderen] I was feeling good and just wanted to put down some good laps and get a gap. Then towards the end, my mechanic started putting on the board “Gajser 13 seconds,” “Gajser 10 seconds,” and then the next time I came around “7 seconds.” I thought “Oh, man, he’s coming,” but I knew I had a big enough gap and the race was coming to an end there. I was able to come in comfortably.

    It’s been a tough two years for you, hasn’t it? This is your second full year in MX2, and obviously today was a high point. Can you kind of fill us in on things that have affected your last two years. Were there injuries, bad luck?
    No, I just think it’s tough for someone like me that came straight out of the amateurs in the US and go straight to racing GPs. It’s a whole different world, and it’s taken me a while to get used to the European tracks and the whole lifestyle. I think this year has gone significantly better than last year, a lot more top tens this year and consistently having good finishes. Yeah, to win here this weekend is just incredible.

    Next week we head to the final round in the USA at Glen Helen. You now go into it a race winner and an overall Grand Prix winner as well. You’re not just an American on the starting line in a Grand Prix. Are you looking more forward to that now that you won here?
    I don’t think it changes that much going into next week. For the past three months, I’ve been looking forward to this race. I’ll go in with the same mind-set I had before. I will try and get on the podium again for the home crowd—that’s the goal.

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  2. racemx904 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    owenton, ky
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2014 Beta 350RR & 1986 430XC
    Other Motorcycles:
    1975 Rokon and 2004 Kawasaki KX65
    You see Jonas crash? Wow that was some crazy mud
  3. ray_ray Mini-Sponsor

    Location:
    The Philippines
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    08\013 WR250, 010 TC250, 012 TC250
    No offense but nope, that is another thread...I just saw this USA HomeSlice kick his butt off the track ...And expect lots more of that type action this weekend in the great state of CA...
  4. ray_ray Mini-Sponsor

    Location:
    The Philippines
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    08\013 WR250, 010 TC250, 012 TC250
    That is American Thomas Covington on the top step...Very few of my countrymen have reached that position in life ... He's a stud and I'm down with this hard-charger and the rest of my fellow countryman. ESP for the next 2 weekends of dirt bike racing. Period.

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  5. racemx904 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    owenton, ky
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2014 Beta 350RR & 1986 430XC
    Other Motorcycles:
    1975 Rokon and 2004 Kawasaki KX65
    If you didnt this the jonas crash how did you see Covington kick him off the track.... no need to be an ass.... but oh well threads all yours
  6. ray_ray Mini-Sponsor

    Location:
    The Philippines
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    08\013 WR250, 010 TC250, 012 TC250
    One more time .. That is another thread :)

    This thread is about what Mr. Covington accomplished ...Not about me and not about you ...or anyone else ...
  7. ray_ray Mini-Sponsor

    Location:
    The Philippines
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    08\013 WR250, 010 TC250, 012 TC250
    This answer below from TC64 is pretty heavy and since I left a country also, I get what he means ... the difference is I'm 50 yrs old and he is 18 or so? We both are not on a 5 star hotel tour in a foreign land for 2 weeks...Plus, his job is to race these guys in EU that have some speed for sure..You wanna be in the gate with JH84? ... I'm usually on the couch, but it's rough...

    It’s been a tough two years for you, hasn’t it? This is your second full year in MX2, and obviously today was a high point. Can you kind of fill us in on things that have affected your last two years. Were there injuries, bad luck?
    No, I just think it’s tough for someone like me that came straight out of the amateurs in the US and go straight to racing GPs. It’s a whole different world, and it’s taken me a while to get used to the European tracks and the whole lifestyle. I think this year has gone significantly better than last year, a lot more top tens this year and consistently having good finishes. Yeah, to win here this weekend is just incredible.

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    This guy might can break through to the other side .. He's got zero ama background? He races on home soil next weekend against his competitors ... I ride with him in MX2...

    I gotta add Husky has no real exposure in the MX2 class this yr... How about this guy on a Husky SP?
  8. Darkside Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    SF Bay Area
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    none left
    Other Motorcycles:
    beta, ktm, aprilia
    I'm really happy for this kid. It's gotta be tough being the only American out there.
  9. ray_ray Mini-Sponsor

    Location:
    The Philippines
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    08\013 WR250, 010 TC250, 012 TC250
    Communicating, just daily trivial stuff is lots more important that you ever can imagine until you loose it ... He's been there 2 yrs and straight out of non-Pro racing into the GPs? Gotta be ESP hard just to be in the gate each round ... Being a foreigner and American, the gals have got to notice him ... At his age, that's got to hinder his focus on racing ... racing every 2, 3 weeks probably works in his favor over there ..

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    Here he is flying ...feet off the pegs as it seems is a PRO move for jumping ... Might just be a natural occurrence of seat bouncing \ loading the suspension on take-0ff ...
    TC64_Mex.jpg