The first round of the FIM Motocross World Championship in Qatar hosted the best MX2 racing we have seen in a while, with only two seconds separating the lap times from first to eighteenth. As always, there are those guys you expect to see battling for the win, the Jeffrey Herlings, Jordi Tixier and Arnaud Tonus’s of the sport, and then there are those guys who have got so much talent it’s ridiculous, but are completely over looked.
Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Thomas Covington was one of those guys, at least until the final waving of the checkered flag at the first MX2 Grand Prix of the season in Qatar. Covington, the eighteen year old super talent from California, America showed everyone what’s up when he charged his way to a third place finish in moto two. A DNF in moto one hindered Covington’s overall result, but his remarkable result in race two landed him as the most talked about rider of the night.
I managed to catch the friendly Monster Energy Kawasaki rider right after his first practice session here in Si Racha, Thailand, for a few quick words.
Thomas, what an amazing debut to the FIM MX2 World Championship, third place in moto two! How did it feel?
Covington: It felt great to just go out there and get a great finish like that. I mean, I knew I could do it from the start but I just wasn’t sure the level of these guys over here. It’s a good confidence booster going into this weekend and I’m really enjoying being over here racing the GP’s and being able to travel to all these new places to race. It’s really cool.
Is the top three somewhere you expect to be?
Covington: For sure it’s the goal. I would love to be there every weekend, I definitely won’t be happy unless I’m in the top five but podiums are for me the goal and hopefully I’ll eventually be able to win.
So you nailed a top three in the last race in Qatar, now we are in Thailand for round two. Do you feel more pressure?
Covington: I don’t know really. Actually it’s the exact opposite, getting a good finish just lifted some weight off my shoulders after training so long for these races. I feel great now; I’m having fun out there and just trying to ride my best, the rest is just up to the lord I guess.
I’ve heard you’re only planning to do the first four races in MX2 before heading back to the US. Have you thought about racing the entire FIM Motocross World Championship series?
Covington: I’ve definitely thought about it. I guess we will just make that decision after the first four rounds and see how I am standing in the points.
You did a bit of riding in Europe last year. Now we’re at the fly away rounds of the MXGP series, but still the same people build these tracks. So how are you finding them? Especially in comparison to what you have in the US?
Covington: The tracks I wouldn’t say are much different. I mean, in the US we got all kinds of different tracks, like hard pack and a few sandy ones, I mean, nothing like in Lommel or anything but these first rounds of MXGP so far are a lot like what we have back home. So I really like them, I really feel at home, and this one here in Thailand is now one of my favorite tracks, it’s awesome!
Why do you think it is that more Americans don’t come over and do the World Championship series?
Covington: I think really they just love in California in the US. I think they are just comfortable in their own environment, I mean, they can go back home every week and fly out to the races every week. But as far as I can tell, I love it over here, it’s been awesome and I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t wanna come.
You’ve just finished your first practice here in Thailand, what are your first impressions?
Covington: The track is awesome, its got really good dirt and the jumps are fun too. I was having a really good time out there in the first free practice and in a couple hours is timed practice so I just hope I get a good time in. But I love this track it’s awesome.