You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
MXGP MXGP<br />
COVINGTON: “I’M HEALTHY BUT IT TAKES TIME<br />
TO GET THAT FITNESS BACK”<br />
Midway through 2018 Thomas<br />
Covington was picking up<br />
form. The Grand Prix of France<br />
delivered the first of five MX2<br />
podium results in the next six<br />
races and would represent the<br />
purple patch of nine trophies<br />
and a victory that year. That<br />
weekend at St Jean D’Angely<br />
he also confirmed that he<br />
would transfer works Rockstar<br />
Energy Husqvarna teams<br />
from MXGP to the AMA and<br />
head back to the States for<br />
the first time in more than half<br />
a decade. Injury and illness<br />
meant that Covington – who<br />
would have had one more year<br />
of MX2 eligibility in 2019 –<br />
meant his first season as an<br />
AMA Pro was a write-off. Marriage<br />
to a Brit and the chance<br />
to return to Grand Prix as an<br />
MXGP rookie with the Gebben<br />
Van Venrooy Yamaha brought<br />
Covington over the Atlantic<br />
once more.<br />
As one of the only Americans<br />
attempting to find his way in<br />
the FIM World Championship,<br />
Covington is still a novelty and<br />
faces yet another fresh start<br />
in his career. Can he (or we)<br />
expect much from a tentative<br />
first step in 2020?<br />
First of all: sum-up the Husky<br />
experience in the U.S. It just<br />
didn’t work out for you…<br />
I would have liked to have<br />
stayed for my last year in MX2<br />
but the way things were there<br />
was not the chance to remain<br />
with Husky for a 450 ride at<br />
that time [for 2020]. So, I’d<br />
rather agree to a two-year deal<br />
in America than maybe<br />
nothing. Looking back, I<br />
maybe should have stayed<br />
but I learned a lot over the<br />
past year and I’m glad I did it<br />
regardless because I’d always<br />
wonder ‘what if?’ otherwise. It<br />
was a bummer the way things<br />
went with the illness and a<br />
few nagging injuries as well as<br />
moving everything back home<br />
and getting used to supercross<br />
it was a lot to take on at<br />
once. It was a hectic year for<br />
sure. All-in-all I’m happy to be<br />
back in Europe. I got married<br />
last year and that was great.<br />
It is good to be back ‘home’<br />
around family in England. I’m<br />
enjoying it.<br />
MXGP, Yamaha and more new<br />
adventures, so you must have<br />
stood at a big crossroads<br />
again at some point…
Change language