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MXGP 2020: COVINGTON<br />
Obviously, it was a difficult situation<br />
with Husqvarna. It was<br />
my first year in America [as<br />
Pro] and they expected a lot<br />
more from me. Things were<br />
not going well with my racing<br />
and they were not happy.<br />
I missed racing in Europe for<br />
sure, so when the opportunity<br />
came up to possibly do something<br />
with Yamaha that was<br />
really interesting for me and<br />
I decided to go for it. I have<br />
always like the 450 and raced<br />
it at the Nations a few years<br />
ago. I think it suits me…and I<br />
was ready for a change.<br />
You moved from a factory<br />
team to a blossoming privateer<br />
team: is that something<br />
else to get your head around?<br />
Yeah but it’s not been a really<br />
big deal because Gebben have<br />
been really good in providing<br />
anything that I ask for. There<br />
are a lot of positives because<br />
the guys are really eager to<br />
get the bike dialled-in and are<br />
listening to what I say about it<br />
while I’m learning.<br />
You’ve faced some adversity<br />
the last few years - and it<br />
must be character building -<br />
but being a rookie in MXGP<br />
must be like starting over…<br />
Definitely a new challenge<br />
and the field is very stacked,<br />
especially this year. It’s pretty<br />
crazy. I feel that if my fitness<br />
is good and my bike is dialled<br />
like I want it then I can put<br />
in some decent results. Obviously,<br />
I’m not expecting to<br />
light the world on fire in my<br />
first year but if I can get some<br />
consistent good results then I<br />
can build from there.<br />
By the end of your stint in<br />
MX2 you were disappointed if<br />
you didn’t make the podium,<br />
so what do you think MXGP<br />
will be about? Top tens?<br />
Yeah, especially this first year.<br />
I think the top ten will be good<br />
for me. That’s probably my<br />
goal; to be in that top ten as<br />
much as possible and I feel<br />
that it’s realistic.<br />
Physically are you 100%? Will<br />
you go back to the old GP<br />
training programme?<br />
Yeah, exactly that. In America<br />
I was on quite a different<br />
programme and I drove myself<br />
into the ground with all the<br />
pressure as well. I did everything<br />
and anything I had to<br />
do to be competitive in that<br />
outdoor championship but I<br />
think I pushed my body too<br />
far. It took about six months –<br />
after consultation with doctors<br />
at the clinic – of doing nothing<br />
to get back to feeling better.<br />
<strong>No</strong>w I’m healthy but it takes<br />
time to get that fitness back.<br />
With a regular injury - to your<br />
hand, arm, whatever - you<br />
can still do some basic training<br />
but with this it was a case<br />
of ‘do nothing’. I’m working<br />
again with Joel Roelants and<br />
building myself back up. I<br />
wish I had a bit more time but<br />
hopefully at some point into<br />
the season I’ll be back to my<br />
full potential.<br />
You’re based away from the<br />
U.S. again but perhaps more<br />
settled than ever?<br />
Yeah, that’s true. I see myself<br />
staying over here for at least<br />
the rest of my career and<br />
maybe even after that too. It is<br />
definitely a different mindset.<br />
You’ve had a question mark<br />
for most of your career, such<br />
as ‘can he do it on this bike?’,<br />
and it’s still there. Does that<br />
feel heavy sometimes?<br />
At times I guess, last year it<br />
did get pretty heavy. I had so<br />
much time on my hands to do<br />
nothing and you start thinking<br />
about those things. But<br />
that also forced me to grow<br />
up too. I don’t really care any<br />
more about what everybody is<br />
saying. I will just do the best<br />
I can and what is best for me<br />
without worrying about other<br />
opinions.
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