With all the drama of what Team USA will do with their riders for this year’s Monster Energy Motocross of Nations, one young American is waiting with bated breath to get the call up. Or at least, he would be honored to race for his country. Thomas Covington of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team is as proud an American as you will find, and the 21-year-old from Alabama isn’t short on what he would do if Roger De Coster gave him a call.
Covington, who told us a month or two ago that he was going to race for the Puerto Rico team at this year’s MXoN, would be more than happy to help his nation out if they needed him, but he knows that if the phone hasn’t rung yet, then it probably won’t be soon.
Refreshing and honest we sat down with the duel Grand Prix winner and a rider who is probably in the peak of his form at the moment.
Firstly, you are in the Puerto Rico team for the Motocross of Nations. You must be pretty excited about that?
Yes, for sure. I am excited to be a part of that event. I watched the race last year in Maggiora and it was just insane. I spoke with the Puerto Rico manager there and we already talked about this year and I am looking forward to it.
Is it difficult now with so many American riders not going, not wanting to go, or being injured, because maybe you get a call from Roger. Would you take that ride if it was offered to you, or has anyone contacted you about maybe riding for them?
No, not really, just people talking online or whatever, but nobody has reached out to me yet. I think there is slim chance that they would pick me, but it would be cool to get the call.
So, you would take the ride and accept?
I would have to work it out with Puerto Rico, but I am sure they would understand.
What is your take on riders not wanting to race for their nation? It’s been like that a few years now, and as you mentioned last year in Maggiora, it didn’t seem to matter because whoever America send, they always lift their game and perform.
Personally, I think it’s ridiculous. If I was asked it wouldn’t matter if I raced the weekend before or the weekend after, I would be there. To hear guys don’t want to race, it’s disappointing.
When you talk about schedules—they said that Tomac did 29 races last year—but I am guessing you will do around the same this year or not?
This year I did a lot of pre-season races, also the Dutch championship and some Belgian races, so if you add it all together its around 30 races. I totally understand what Tomac is saying, that he doesn’t have much time off, and its right in the middle of testing for Monster Cup, but for me personally, I am just a really proud American, and I would really be honoured to represent the country.
It is easy to have an opinion on this—I mean for myself. I am not a racer and not really a risk taker, so my opinion isn’t worth anything. But somebody like you, I think your opinion can be respected. I mean in the old days, guys like Ricky Johnson, Jeff Stanton, those guys raced no matter what. Are the riders now getting too much money, is that the problem?
I don’t think it has anything to do with money, the money was good back then, probably better. For me, I am a racer, that is what I do and every chance I get I want to make the most of it, every chance I get, especially at a race like the Motocross of Nations.
What about the USGP? You were looking forward to going to Gatorback because you rode there as a kid, but the circuit in WW Ranch looks pretty good. What is your feeling about that race now?
I am still excited. It isn’t too far from Gatorback, and my family will still be driving down from Alabama. I have heard a lot of good things about WW Ranch. Maybe it’s for the best.
Speaking about your family. I did an interview with your dad a couple of days ago and I really enjoyed interviewing him, because you really get the sense on how important family is. Anyway, once it was online on Facebook and I noticed it go shared a lot, I went looking to see who was sharing it and your family all over the place were sharing it. And the response from your family members was really nice. It has to be really nice to have that family support?
Yes, defiantly is, and especially with my grandparents and everything. Growing up they used to drop me to the races with the motorhome and my dad would work during the week and fly in for the weekend. My family has been a major part of my racing since I was a young kid, and it’s pretty awesome that they can come and watch me race the USGP.
Your form this year—it’s been better—but still at times it was up and down. It’s improved over last year. I remember watching you in Latvia and thinking how fast you looked and really smooth. What did it take to turn the corner?
The last three Grand Prix’s have been pretty much what I am trying to do and it doesn’t get too much more consistent than that. Early in the season I didn’t have that and sometimes it was my fault and sometimes not. The guys in the top three are more consistent and they are leading the championship, and that is what I am trying to do now.
Obviously getting three podiums in a row has built a lot of confidence?
Yes, for sure, it’s built my confidence up. It’s just knowing even when I get a bad start that I belong up there, or some bad laps in the first laps, or whatever. It helps the confidence these podiums and hopefully I can do that until the end of the season.
I spoke to somebody a little while ago and they mentioned to me that when you age out of the MX2 class, you might look at racing in America. Is that true?
I am 21, so I have two more years in MX2, and I am just taking it one year at a time. See how things go and what opportunities I have and where I will race. I am just playing it by ear.
