Thomas Covington, the 19 years old super talent from California

GMX: First of all, congrats Thomas for your win in Leon in Mexico! This is awesome! I laughed so much when you said that you did not know you win the overall until someone told you where to stand on the podium! This is your first MXGP overall win, how does it feel?

TC: It’s an unbelievable feeling to win my first GP. To see all the hard work and things I’ve sacrificed to race the world championship pay off its really an amazing feeling. I also had my parents there at the race so that made it even more special since they don’t really get to come to my races overseas.

GMX: You are the first american to win overall since Ireland in 2008. Was it the time (laughs)?

TC: Yea for sure it has been too long! To see that American flag on top of the podium and hear The National Anthem playing was just awesome.

GMX: Why is it for an American to win a FIM GP harder than to win an AMA National?

TC: It is definitely also hard to win an AMA national but I think the reason people say that is because as an american moving to Europe by yourself and getting used to not only the rough european tracks but also getting used to the way of life over there. It takes some time to adapt to the World Championship if you weren’t brought up racing in Europe.

GMX: What riders are the most impressive to you this year during the MXGP 2015?

TC: This year the rider that stood out to me the most this year is my Monster Energy team mate Romain Febvre. Winning the World Championship as a rookie in a stacked 450 class is impressive. I’m looking forward to seeing if he can do it again next year.

GMX: Your plans for the Monster Energy mxgp of USA and the Monster Energy MXoN in France? Are you in?

TC: I won’t be racing the MXoN in France but I’ll be pulling for my buddies Barcia, Webb and Martin. Hopefully they can bring the trophy back to the U.S.

GMX: Who is your mechanic? Your team must be so proud!

TC: My race mechanic is Denis Pipelier. He’s been awesome all year and not a single problem. My training mechanic René Ebert I think was the most proud. He’s with me everyday practicing and he puts so much into my program it was actually just as much his win as it was mine. So happy I could get a win for all the guys that work so hard for me.

GMX: You were coming straight out of the amateurs in the U.S. to go straight to racing GP's! It was very risky not to stay in your confort zone. Was it your decision? How did you take the pressure? And how did you adapt to the european tracks?

TC: Yea it’s not really the path that most up and coming motocrossers in America take but after racing the first 3 races in 2014 I was in love with the GPs. The atmosphere in the pits and traveling all over the world was something special. So when I got the opportunity to stay I took it. It was really hard learning the european tracks. I’m still learning them now as I struggled quite a bit on the traditional European tracks this year also. I’m planning to do most my training and testing in Europe this year instead of U.S. to get used to the tracks.

GMX: Your plans after the MXGP and for 2016 are?

TC: I plan to stay in the MXGPs for at least 2 more years. I’m really enjoying the racing and everything over there right now so I’m gonna keep going with it! Hopefully I can be back on top of the podium again soon.

Good luck Thomas!