For the first time this decade there is no clear indicator who could be surging ahead in contention for the MX2 world championship and whether KTM can be beaten for just the second time since 2008. Thomas Covington is one name firmly in the hat. The 21 year old American (one of just two in MXGP) will embark on his fourth season of international competition and already boasts Grand Prix winning experience.
A broken hand and ankle dampened a first term with Jacky Martens’ factory Husqvarna squad in 2016 but now fully fit and shining at the recent Hawkstone Park International (despite suffering a bout of Flu) Covington is looking at the Post-Herlings MX2 era as a massive window of opportunity.
“Jeffrey was always so dominant, and for so long, so it does change things that he’s gone and I do feel that this year I have a shot at the championship,” #64 says. “I would not say I have worked any harder because I have always put in 100% but my mindset is a little different now. Before I might have been thinking about the top five each weekend or the podium…now my focus is on winning.”
Covington dealt with the adjustment to Husqvarna from years through junior and Pro Circuit programmes with Kawasaki. The 2015 Mexican GP victor negotiated the transition at the beginning of ‘16 but then broke his ankle before any momentum could be established. “I’m feeling really comfortable on the bike and I think jumping on the Husky after so many years on the Kawasaki was a bigger change than I thought,” he remarked on his synergy with the FC250. “It took me a little while to get used to everything. I then missed five rounds with my ankle injury and also broke my hand, which pretty much finished the season. I was strong in the last three rounds and that allowed me to get some confidence.”
By virtue of his experience Covington now leads a young roster at the Martens camp with European star Thomas Kjer Olsen and Conrad Mewse next to him in the awning. A slightly elevated position in the pecking order – the first of the ‘Toms’ – brings a change of expectation but the Alabamian doesn’t feel any more pressure. “The team are looking for me to get on the podium each weekend but aside from that the rest has stayed the same,” he says. “Thomas is riding really good – I think he will be a podium contender – and Conrad also has his moments. I think we have a solid little team.”
Compared to rivals like Pauls Jonass, Jeremy Seewer and Benoit Paturel who have all matched podium pace to consistency in the past two seasons, Covington knows he has to improve his regularity to enter the select group that will take residence near the top of the MX2 points standings. He has improved his sand riding immensely and has the technique and throttle control to win in treacherous conditions – as he proved at Leon. Now the mission is to stretch together a term that will involve nineteen rounds and thirty-eight motos. Covington has tended to shine historically in the flyaway Grands Prix and the fact that the first four appointments of 2017 will happen overseas means he can hit the campaign hard and early. “Consistency is where I have been lagging and I gotta fix this,” he admits. “I always feel good at Qatar and the first few flyaway rounds. We don’t know much about Indonesia but I’m sure we’ll find the heat and that’ll be good for me! I full of positive vibes and I cannot wait to get started.”
Photos by Ray Archer
