Covington

731chopper wrote:

I watched Thomas through most of the last practice session and during the qualifiers. He looked like he was scared of the track. He wouldn’t do...

I watched Thomas through most of the last practice session and during the qualifiers. He looked like he was scared of the track. He wouldn’t do the fast line in the main rhythm after the finish which was giving everyone fits all though out practice and he was getting worked in the whoops. I’m sure he has the technical skill to be a good Supercross rider but he’s got to overcome the intimidation of the fact that Supercross is extremely dangerous.

That was my observation at least.

MXMattii wrote:

There once was Christophe Pourcel and he finished second in his first supercross and won his second, against someone they called Ryan Villopoto. You need to...

There once was Christophe Pourcel and he finished second in his first supercross and won his second, against someone they called Ryan Villopoto. You need to see that something is off when Steve Clark who was EMX250 rider the last few years can qualify and someone who won world MX2 class Grand Prix races can't even come close...

If you race on the "big bucks machines" you are always under the magnifying glass and under the gun when you under preform. On the other side Jason Anderson sucked in his first supercross races too, Seb Tortelli start working with him and all things worked out... Who's Thomas working with?

DonM wrote:

He's at RC's place

MXMattii wrote:

Then things will be OK. Maybe Husqvarna should've kept him out of Supercross in 2019. Training supercross with the guys like Jace Owen on the RC...

Then things will be OK. Maybe Husqvarna should've kept him out of Supercross in 2019. Training supercross with the guys like Jace Owen on the RC farm in 2019 could've prepared him for SX in 2020. If he stays fit and doesn't crumble mentally under the lesser results in thes few races, he will learn heaps too off course! I'm just hoping that he can start outdoors blazing because don't understand me wrong I like the kid. He's almost part Belgian, training with Joël Roelants as trainer for so many years and riding for Jacky Martens Husqvarna...

Derek Harris wrote:

Maybe, just maybe - this proves what we argue when the USA results suck in the des nations. SX and MX are totally opposite - almost...

Maybe, just maybe - this proves what we argue when the USA results suck in the des nations.

SX and MX are totally opposite - almost like 2 different sports.

Sure - SOME foreigners have come over and done well - but they are ALWAYS the cream of the crop in talent AND often french (not sure what that means)

And MAYBE, just MAAAYBE, the divide is widening between SX and MX technique. So what works for sx hurts you for mx and vice versa


But if you have been on the euro bandwagon - rightfully so for MX, potentially it also proves that it isn't easy to race sx even if you are a race winning capable GP guy.

I HOPE covington stays healthy until outdoors and isn't ruined from riding sx - and we can witness his skills this year.

APLMAN99 wrote:

While rationally I understand how it can be daunting for a guy who has concentrated on the GPs to come and do SX, a part of...

While rationally I understand how it can be daunting for a guy who has concentrated on the GPs to come and do SX, a part of me wonders why that truly is. It has to be a huge part mental, because when it comes down to it the top GP riders are as skilled at throttle control and bike handling skills as anyone. They race on enough surfaces that it seems that they would adapt to any sort of layout or dirt very quickly. SX is all about throttle control, bike handling, and rhythm, which the top GP riders have in spades.

Makes you wonder just how much a GP guy could benefit from a good sports psychologist when they start to tackle SX. The physical skills have got to be there, and overcoming mental blocks early could really speed things up.

Derek Harris wrote:

Maybe, just maybe - this proves what we argue when the USA results suck in the des nations. SX and MX are totally opposite - almost...

Maybe, just maybe - this proves what we argue when the USA results suck in the des nations.

SX and MX are totally opposite - almost like 2 different sports.

Sure - SOME foreigners have come over and done well - but they are ALWAYS the cream of the crop in talent AND often french (not sure what that means)

And MAYBE, just MAAAYBE, the divide is widening between SX and MX technique. So what works for sx hurts you for mx and vice versa


But if you have been on the euro bandwagon - rightfully so for MX, potentially it also proves that it isn't easy to race sx even if you are a race winning capable GP guy.

I HOPE covington stays healthy until outdoors and isn't ruined from riding sx - and we can witness his skills this year.

Ranman68 wrote:

I wouldn't say we suck at mxon. Yeah we stunk it up in 2018 and had freak mechanical failures with a lousy team in 2017, but...

I wouldn't say we suck at mxon. Yeah we stunk it up in 2018 and had freak mechanical failures with a lousy team in 2017, but 2012-2016 we came within 2 points on winning one (2015), had the win in the bag if Anderson had been able to ride moto 3 (2016), a 3rd in the deep sand we never ever ride in...with a brake failure on Barcia's bike (2012), and were top contenders/podium in 2013, 2014. It's not an excuse for 2017, but it is a fact that Seelys back shock gave out both motos and that Covington rode like total shit. Lousy team to begin with and 2 mechanical DNF's. 2018 was just shit results from shit starts due to shit gate picks due to a DNF and barely qualifying. Not excuses. Just fact. I don't think we could've won it by any means but we had some bad luck that cost us at least an overall position or two. Yeah we stunk it up and got whooped, but in recent years we have had success and come very close to winning it. We've had individual rider wins in many of them. I don't think 2017 and 2018 disasters are cause to say we suck. I think the euros have gotten strong in recent years and we had a couple of shit mxon results. It's happened to every country. It's not like weve been out of contention for an mxon win for decade. Just a slump and some great talent coming out of Europe. It's still pretty even and the u.s. will be a contender and winners in future mxon events. No doubt. We just need to prepare better and send the right guys. Dominating it year after year is probably never gonna happen again, but we do not suck in outdoor mx by any stretch. If we did, top GP guys who come here would dominate the outdoors but they don't. They have to fight just as hard for wins as in GPs. Herlings is an extreme talent for sure, but overall the u.s. is still on par in outdoor mx. Not dominant anymore, but still on par. We've gotten our ass kicked a couple of years in a row in mxon but that's not anything that couldnt change in any mxon event with decent luck and the right 3 guys. We are still in there. Time will show this.

Derek Harris wrote:

Maybe, just maybe - this proves what we argue when the USA results suck in the des nations. SX and MX are totally opposite - almost...

Maybe, just maybe - this proves what we argue when the USA results suck in the des nations.

SX and MX are totally opposite - almost like 2 different sports.

Sure - SOME foreigners have come over and done well - but they are ALWAYS the cream of the crop in talent AND often french (not sure what that means)

And MAYBE, just MAAAYBE, the divide is widening between SX and MX technique. So what works for sx hurts you for mx and vice versa


But if you have been on the euro bandwagon - rightfully so for MX, potentially it also proves that it isn't easy to race sx even if you are a race winning capable GP guy.

I HOPE covington stays healthy until outdoors and isn't ruined from riding sx - and we can witness his skills this year.

Ranman68 wrote:

I wouldn't say we suck at mxon. Yeah we stunk it up in 2018 and had freak mechanical failures with a lousy team in 2017, but...

I wouldn't say we suck at mxon. Yeah we stunk it up in 2018 and had freak mechanical failures with a lousy team in 2017, but 2012-2016 we came within 2 points on winning one (2015), had the win in the bag if Anderson had been able to ride moto 3 (2016), a 3rd in the deep sand we never ever ride in...with a brake failure on Barcia's bike (2012), and were top contenders/podium in 2013, 2014. It's not an excuse for 2017, but it is a fact that Seelys back shock gave out both motos and that Covington rode like total shit. Lousy team to begin with and 2 mechanical DNF's. 2018 was just shit results from shit starts due to shit gate picks due to a DNF and barely qualifying. Not excuses. Just fact. I don't think we could've won it by any means but we had some bad luck that cost us at least an overall position or two. Yeah we stunk it up and got whooped, but in recent years we have had success and come very close to winning it. We've had individual rider wins in many of them. I don't think 2017 and 2018 disasters are cause to say we suck. I think the euros have gotten strong in recent years and we had a couple of shit mxon results. It's happened to every country. It's not like weve been out of contention for an mxon win for decade. Just a slump and some great talent coming out of Europe. It's still pretty even and the u.s. will be a contender and winners in future mxon events. No doubt. We just need to prepare better and send the right guys. Dominating it year after year is probably never gonna happen again, but we do not suck in outdoor mx by any stretch. If we did, top GP guys who come here would dominate the outdoors but they don't. They have to fight just as hard for wins as in GPs. Herlings is an extreme talent for sure, but overall the u.s. is still on par in outdoor mx. Not dominant anymore, but still on par. We've gotten our ass kicked a couple of years in a row in mxon but that's not anything that couldnt change in any mxon event with decent luck and the right 3 guys. We are still in there. Time will show this.

drt410 wrote:

With the US for some reason everything but a win, is counted as theyre absolute garbage at mx now for some reason. Even with many different...

With the US for some reason everything but a win, is counted as theyre absolute garbage at mx now for some reason. Even with many different riders winning different motos throughout the years where they didnt win the event, current riders even, if they even get second at MXON it means the entire mx program in America is trash now and they are now sx only riders that dont know how to ride mx.

Forget the fact that its a team event and that its only been since RV days that they won the event, while recently placing second... Its just not even worth arguing anymore. Everyone has taken their position and it just is what it is until they win again... thats it. Let people believe that US riders suck at mx now, who cares?

Ranman68 wrote:

Yes that is true. Despite the fact that the best GP riders would easily get lapped twice in an 450sx main, if they happen to just...

Yes that is true. Despite the fact that the best GP riders would easily get lapped twice in an 450sx main, if they happen to just beat us in outdoor race (the only thing they do and do nearly 3 times as much), euros get giddy. Even still, we put smackdowns on them even in outdoors on many occasions. You can bet your ass that Covington will not ever do as well in ama outdoors as he did in mxgp. I'd bet any amount of money on it. In supercross.... I think that's already speaking for itself. If Covington does good in ama outdoors I'll be happy for the guy, and I respect the fact that right now Herlings is the best OUTDOOR ONLY rider in the world, but this notion that GP riders are better is just straight up bullshit. They are just sometimes better at the one and only thing they do. Herlings nut huggers who talk shit about Tomac and other american riders have no idea the skill level needed for sx or how bad Herlings would get smoked if he lined up for one. He's damn good at what he does, but if he attempted to do both like american riders, he wouldnt be looking so good. It's fine to be a Herlings can, but a disrespectful not hugger who only shit talks american riders is what i cant stand. I see a lot of that. My opinions on covington are based solely on what I think is the lack of aggression needed. Not anything to do with him being a GP rider. I do know i could be wrong about him, so if i am I'll be happy to admit it when the time comes. At this point though, I think he shpuldve stayed in the GPs because he wont do as well here. Not even outdoors. But....its just my opinion. I'm actually hoping im wrong in the end.

Ranman68 wrote:

Yes that is true. Despite the fact that the best GP riders would easily get lapped twice in an 450sx main, if they happen to just...

Yes that is true. Despite the fact that the best GP riders would easily get lapped twice in an 450sx main, if they happen to just beat us in outdoor race (the only thing they do and do nearly 3 times as much), euros get giddy. Even still, we put smackdowns on them even in outdoors on many occasions. You can bet your ass that Covington will not ever do as well in ama outdoors as he did in mxgp. I'd bet any amount of money on it. In supercross.... I think that's already speaking for itself. If Covington does good in ama outdoors I'll be happy for the guy, and I respect the fact that right now Herlings is the best OUTDOOR ONLY rider in the world, but this notion that GP riders are better is just straight up bullshit. They are just sometimes better at the one and only thing they do. Herlings nut huggers who talk shit about Tomac and other american riders have no idea the skill level needed for sx or how bad Herlings would get smoked if he lined up for one. He's damn good at what he does, but if he attempted to do both like american riders, he wouldnt be looking so good. It's fine to be a Herlings can, but a disrespectful not hugger who only shit talks american riders is what i cant stand. I see a lot of that. My opinions on covington are based solely on what I think is the lack of aggression needed. Not anything to do with him being a GP rider. I do know i could be wrong about him, so if i am I'll be happy to admit it when the time comes. At this point though, I think he shpuldve stayed in the GPs because he wont do as well here. Not even outdoors. But....its just my opinion. I'm actually hoping im wrong in the end.

Barrett57 wrote:

"the fact that the best GP riders would easily get lapped twice in an 450sx main"

You should change your username to rainman.

SlasherMcGee wrote:

To me this shows, that just how the MXGP guys have advanced outdoor MX over the past ~5 years, the AMA boys equally advanced indoor SX...

To me this shows, that just how the MXGP guys have advanced outdoor MX over the past ~5 years, the AMA boys equally advanced indoor SX.

> 5 years ago, guys like Roczen, Musquin, etc.. could transition without a huge problem. While SX was and has always been a different beast than MX, I believe the speed and skill with which the AMA riders ride SX has never been higher.

Guys like TC, who are VERY good MXGP riders(on his good days he could hang with Prado, even best him), was unable to make the main in 250 SX. At the first round, he dropped like a rock in the main. Ferrandis faired a bit better ~3 years ago, but even he struggled with A LOT of crashes in SX. Gasjer made it about a half of lap at the MEC before he wadded up in a rhythm section.

This isn't a shot at the GP boys.. I think it's simply a byproduct of the AMA guys focusing on SX for ~5 months out of the year starting when they are ~18 years old. Just like how the AMA boys find it tough to keep up with the GP boys that ride MX ~12 months a year.

SlasherMcGee wrote:

To me this shows, that just how the MXGP guys have advanced outdoor MX over the past ~5 years, the AMA boys equally advanced indoor SX...

To me this shows, that just how the MXGP guys have advanced outdoor MX over the past ~5 years, the AMA boys equally advanced indoor SX.

> 5 years ago, guys like Roczen, Musquin, etc.. could transition without a huge problem. While SX was and has always been a different beast than MX, I believe the speed and skill with which the AMA riders ride SX has never been higher.

Guys like TC, who are VERY good MXGP riders(on his good days he could hang with Prado, even best him), was unable to make the main in 250 SX. At the first round, he dropped like a rock in the main. Ferrandis faired a bit better ~3 years ago, but even he struggled with A LOT of crashes in SX. Gasjer made it about a half of lap at the MEC before he wadded up in a rhythm section.

This isn't a shot at the GP boys.. I think it's simply a byproduct of the AMA guys focusing on SX for ~5 months out of the year starting when they are ~18 years old. Just like how the AMA boys find it tough to keep up with the GP boys that ride MX ~12 months a year.

SlasherMcGee wrote:

To me this shows, that just how the MXGP guys have advanced outdoor MX over the past ~5 years, the AMA boys equally advanced indoor SX...

To me this shows, that just how the MXGP guys have advanced outdoor MX over the past ~5 years, the AMA boys equally advanced indoor SX.

> 5 years ago, guys like Roczen, Musquin, etc.. could transition without a huge problem. While SX was and has always been a different beast than MX, I believe the speed and skill with which the AMA riders ride SX has never been higher.

Guys like TC, who are VERY good MXGP riders(on his good days he could hang with Prado, even best him), was unable to make the main in 250 SX. At the first round, he dropped like a rock in the main. Ferrandis faired a bit better ~3 years ago, but even he struggled with A LOT of crashes in SX. Gasjer made it about a half of lap at the MEC before he wadded up in a rhythm section.

This isn't a shot at the GP boys.. I think it's simply a byproduct of the AMA guys focusing on SX for ~5 months out of the year starting when they are ~18 years old. Just like how the AMA boys find it tough to keep up with the GP boys that ride MX ~12 months a year.

Park Boys wrote:

It’s not a fair assessment to compare Covington to the talents of Roczen and Musquin. Those guys won more GP races in half of a season...

It’s not a fair assessment to compare Covington to the talents of Roczen and Musquin. Those guys won more GP races in half of a season than Thomas did in his MXGP career. Let’s say Pardo came over and struggled I could see your comparison. His age IMO is hurting him, he’s not hanging out it like the kids.

GuyB wrote:

2019 is a learning year for him in SX. The primary focus for him will be the outdoors. To get there, you have to survive the...

2019 is a learning year for him in SX. The primary focus for him will be the outdoors. To get there, you have to survive the SX season. I thought Thomas looked friskier than I expected at Minneapolis, showing some of the series regulars a thing or two early in the main. In Arlington, I know he had a crash on press day. To me, he looked a lot less comfortable on the softer Arlington course then he had the week before.

GuyB wrote:

2019 is a learning year for him in SX. The primary focus for him will be the outdoors. To get there, you have to survive the...

2019 is a learning year for him in SX. The primary focus for him will be the outdoors. To get there, you have to survive the SX season. I thought Thomas looked friskier than I expected at Minneapolis, showing some of the series regulars a thing or two early in the main. In Arlington, I know he had a crash on press day. To me, he looked a lot less comfortable on the softer Arlington course then he had the week before.

500guy wrote:

yep no idea why but He did not look comfortable in Texas. I heard a rumor that it was because I picked him on my pulp...

yep no idea why but He did not look comfortable in Texas.

I heard a rumor that it was because I picked him on my pulp fantasy team.

GuyB wrote:

2019 is a learning year for him in SX. The primary focus for him will be the outdoors. To get there, you have to survive the...

2019 is a learning year for him in SX. The primary focus for him will be the outdoors. To get there, you have to survive the SX season. I thought Thomas looked friskier than I expected at Minneapolis, showing some of the series regulars a thing or two early in the main. In Arlington, I know he had a crash on press day. To me, he looked a lot less comfortable on the softer Arlington course then he had the week before.

500guy wrote:

yep no idea why but He did not look comfortable in Texas. I heard a rumor that it was because I picked him on my pulp...

yep no idea why but He did not look comfortable in Texas.

I heard a rumor that it was because I picked him on my pulp fantasy team.

MXMattii wrote:

Maybe it's because he did tons of laps on super prepped training circuits in Florida, and some of those soft east coast tracks are a whole...

Maybe it's because he did tons of laps on super prepped training circuits in Florida, and some of those soft east coast tracks are a whole other kind of game?

drt410 wrote:

Confirmed will return at Daytona via: Instagram.

Johnny Ringo wrote:

Ironic his nickname is Big Air Tom...

When is Hunter going to line up and quit ducking the competition?

drt410 wrote:

Confirmed will return at Daytona via: Instagram.

Moto man wrote:

Shocker. Following Daytona his knee will get “tweaked” again and will be sidelined until outdoors.

drt410 wrote:

Confirmed will return at Daytona via: Instagram.

Moto man wrote:

Shocker. Following Daytona his knee will get “tweaked” again and will be sidelined until outdoors.

Derek Harris wrote:

X2

FlaNard wrote:

I'd have him preparing for the Nationals after he races Daytona. Yeah he needs experience but he is really far off this year. I think coming...

I'd have him preparing for the Nationals after he races Daytona. Yeah he needs experience but he is really far off this year. I think coming in fresh and healthy for the outdoors is a smart move at this point.