So...is Covington hurt?

DA498
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DA498 6/2/2019 7:59am
6/2/2019 7:59am
Casting wrote:
Has there been a single interview with Thomas or Husky since the motocross season began? I cant think of any but I might have missed them...
Has there been a single interview with Thomas or Husky since the motocross season began? I cant think of any but I might have missed them.

Seems like an interview every journalist should be chasing as its something most fans are curious about.
aeffertz wrote:
Swap talked to him a little bit at Pala. Cut to the 14 minute mark.

https://youtu.be/7Lql9KtaqRU?start=840
Well there it is sort of. He is basically sucking if you ask me then. Not buying in on the quick program statement because that was the excuse the US guys used when going to Europe. Had to lay down fast Qualifying lap to get a gate pick for the qualifying Race. He did not look too confident in anything he was saying.
Question
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Question 6/2/2019 8:20am
6/2/2019 8:20am
Probably "rolling around" because he doesn't want to risk reinjuring his nursing knee.

I have never been a big fan but 10 seconds a lap slower is REALLY not what he is capable of, in theory he should be near Lawrence in this first ama season.
devindavisphoto 6/2/2019 8:22am
6/2/2019 8:22am
At this point why is he out there? It would have almost been better for him to not race and have everyone think he's going to win when he's healthy rather than race not at 100% and get smoked by privateers.
agn5009
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agn5009 6/2/2019 8:27am
6/2/2019 8:27am
Frère Jacques wrote:
It doesn’t say anything about the mx2 class. Lawrence is there too and doing much better and he was similarly a top 5 guy in Europe
agn5009 wrote:
And Ferrandis. I know a lot of guys here thought Lawrence would be winning races based off of one great day at the MXdN a few...
And Ferrandis. I know a lot of guys here thought Lawrence would be winning races based off of one great day at the MXdN a few years ago. They failed to look and see he was typically a 3rd-6th place guy there too.

Anyways, I look at the American series and I don’t see anyone with next level talent. Meaning, I don’t think anyone in the current crop can be a Tomac, Roczen, Dungey, Villopoto etc type of guy.

However, looking at the MX2 class I don’t know how anyone can argue that Prado won’t be the next level talent type. That kids got absolutely everything and will be a future legend barring a significant injury.
Neo78 wrote:
Prado no doubt is a talent, but he is beatable, as proven in France last week. I’m a fan of the kid, but he’s far from...
Prado no doubt is a talent, but he is beatable, as proven in France last week.

I’m a fan of the kid, but he’s far from the finished article. His racecraft when he doesn’t get the hole shot is ordinary at best.
Everyone is “beatable” at certain races. But over course of an entire 250 series? Nope. No ones beating him without an injury. He’s missed one race and it took him what, 2 or 3 races to get the red plate back? He’s the best 250 rider in the world. There’s absolutely nothing you can say to change my mind. This kid is the real deal. He will be a future 450 champ. I can’t say with confidence any of the other current 250 riders in either series will be.
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GuyB
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GuyB 6/2/2019 8:39am
6/2/2019 8:39am
I think it's safe to say he's underperforming. I chatted with some of the team staff earlier this year, and his knees are not great on a good day. After the way he performed in the GPs, I was hoping to see more from him.

Let's see how the rest of the summer plays out.
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DA498
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DA498 6/2/2019 8:46am
6/2/2019 8:46am
I saw hope at Pala, but yesterday was WTH!!
cbuehler767
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cbuehler767 6/2/2019 8:49am
6/2/2019 8:49am
agn5009 wrote:
Everyone is “beatable” at certain races. But over course of an entire 250 series? Nope. No ones beating him without an injury. He’s missed one race...
Everyone is “beatable” at certain races. But over course of an entire 250 series? Nope. No ones beating him without an injury. He’s missed one race and it took him what, 2 or 3 races to get the red plate back? He’s the best 250 rider in the world. There’s absolutely nothing you can say to change my mind. This kid is the real deal. He will be a future 450 champ. I can’t say with confidence any of the other current 250 riders in either series will be.
Agreed
Muscle-Milk-KTM 6/2/2019 8:53am
6/2/2019 8:53am
Johnny Ringo wrote:
Has a factory rider ever been fired mid season for lack of performance?
Mike Craig in 94, maybe.
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Chris_Cooksey 6/2/2019 8:58am
6/2/2019 8:58am
Johnny Ringo wrote:
Has a factory rider ever been fired mid season for lack of performance?
Muscle-Milk-KTM wrote:
Mike Craig in 94, maybe.
That was more off the track stuff... Craig beat McGrath in a Supercross that same year.
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Neo78 6/2/2019 9:13am
6/2/2019 9:13am
agn5009 wrote:
And Ferrandis. I know a lot of guys here thought Lawrence would be winning races based off of one great day at the MXdN a few...
And Ferrandis. I know a lot of guys here thought Lawrence would be winning races based off of one great day at the MXdN a few years ago. They failed to look and see he was typically a 3rd-6th place guy there too.

Anyways, I look at the American series and I don’t see anyone with next level talent. Meaning, I don’t think anyone in the current crop can be a Tomac, Roczen, Dungey, Villopoto etc type of guy.

However, looking at the MX2 class I don’t know how anyone can argue that Prado won’t be the next level talent type. That kids got absolutely everything and will be a future legend barring a significant injury.
Neo78 wrote:
Prado no doubt is a talent, but he is beatable, as proven in France last week. I’m a fan of the kid, but he’s far from...
Prado no doubt is a talent, but he is beatable, as proven in France last week.

I’m a fan of the kid, but he’s far from the finished article. His racecraft when he doesn’t get the hole shot is ordinary at best.
agn5009 wrote:
Everyone is “beatable” at certain races. But over course of an entire 250 series? Nope. No ones beating him without an injury. He’s missed one race...
Everyone is “beatable” at certain races. But over course of an entire 250 series? Nope. No ones beating him without an injury. He’s missed one race and it took him what, 2 or 3 races to get the red plate back? He’s the best 250 rider in the world. There’s absolutely nothing you can say to change my mind. This kid is the real deal. He will be a future 450 champ. I can’t say with confidence any of the other current 250 riders in either series will be.
I am not bagging on the kid, I’m a big fan of Prado

He’s the best starter in the world that’s for sure

TKO will surprise on the 450, and so will Watson
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SWOHIO GUY
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SWOHIO GUY 6/2/2019 9:13am
6/2/2019 9:13am
He crashed early moto 1 in front of the triple and was distant last, then a horrible start in moto 2. It seems to me that he gets stuck in the pace of the people he is in front of, doesn’t aggressively try to pass people which could point to bike set up, the one good start he got he didn’t completely drop anchor, he got 11th. The US bike is a production frame and the go bike they can pretty much do what they want with the frame and chassis to fit the rider. With a week off maybe he rights the ship a little bit.
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Jake15 6/2/2019 10:05am
6/2/2019 10:05am
These guys are just kids, who knows whats going on. Seen it first hand with my own kid many times, one week going good, following week 5-8 seconds a lap slower on same track under same conditions. Loss of confidence with equiupment and or big crash seems to be a mental hurdle when trying to ride at the level these guys are.
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drt410
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drt410 6/2/2019 10:58am
6/2/2019 10:58am Edited Date/Time 6/2/2019 11:01am
Casting wrote:
Has there been a single interview with Thomas or Husky since the motocross season began? I cant think of any but I might have missed them...
Has there been a single interview with Thomas or Husky since the motocross season began? I cant think of any but I might have missed them.

Seems like an interview every journalist should be chasing as its something most fans are curious about.
aeffertz wrote:
Swap talked to him a little bit at Pala. Cut to the 14 minute mark.

https://youtu.be/7Lql9KtaqRU?start=840
So hes on record in that recent video saying he feels good. He says hes trying to get used to the schedule and his results arent what he wants but hes trying to get better... That is not an injured rider talking there. He didnt even try to hide anything or cover up that he has an injury or say theres a few things going on, he said he feels good and just has to get better.

So that puts to rest you guys saying he has some injury hes dealing with. Everybody has some small stuff but that is not a guy with an injury thats bad enough to affect him enough to cause these results. So thats that.. So its probably a combination of new scenery, bike, schedule, and just normal ups and downs on top of that but all coming at the same time.
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Ranman68
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Ranman68 6/2/2019 11:16am
6/2/2019 11:16am
Whatever the case is with Covington, the ama 250 class is very fast and very deep in talent despite some people saying otherwise. Covington would still have decent results if he rode like he did in the GPs, but he isnt. He will either start doing it and getting some decent results or he will be out of a ride. He knows that. It's for him to do or not do.
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agn5009
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agn5009 6/2/2019 11:49am
6/2/2019 11:49am
Neo78 wrote:
Prado no doubt is a talent, but he is beatable, as proven in France last week. I’m a fan of the kid, but he’s far from...
Prado no doubt is a talent, but he is beatable, as proven in France last week.

I’m a fan of the kid, but he’s far from the finished article. His racecraft when he doesn’t get the hole shot is ordinary at best.
agn5009 wrote:
Everyone is “beatable” at certain races. But over course of an entire 250 series? Nope. No ones beating him without an injury. He’s missed one race...
Everyone is “beatable” at certain races. But over course of an entire 250 series? Nope. No ones beating him without an injury. He’s missed one race and it took him what, 2 or 3 races to get the red plate back? He’s the best 250 rider in the world. There’s absolutely nothing you can say to change my mind. This kid is the real deal. He will be a future 450 champ. I can’t say with confidence any of the other current 250 riders in either series will be.
Neo78 wrote:
I am not bagging on the kid, I’m a big fan of Prado He’s the best starter in the world that’s for sure TKO will surprise...
I am not bagging on the kid, I’m a big fan of Prado

He’s the best starter in the world that’s for sure

TKO will surprise on the 450, and so will Watson
They may have a few surprise races but I doubt they’ll ever win a title. Prado, Herlings and Gajser are your next 10 years in the MXGP’s.
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Ken202 6/2/2019 4:46pm
6/2/2019 4:46pm Edited Date/Time 6/2/2019 4:49pm
SWOHIO GUY wrote:
He crashed early moto 1 in front of the triple and was distant last, then a horrible start in moto 2. It seems to me that...
He crashed early moto 1 in front of the triple and was distant last, then a horrible start in moto 2. It seems to me that he gets stuck in the pace of the people he is in front of, doesn’t aggressively try to pass people which could point to bike set up, the one good start he got he didn’t completely drop anchor, he got 11th. The US bike is a production frame and the go bike they can pretty much do what they want with the frame and chassis to fit the rider. With a week off maybe he rights the ship a little bit.
How does that explain him not qualifying well?
Hopefully he’ll get it figured out.
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SWOHIO GUY 6/2/2019 6:24pm
6/2/2019 6:24pm
SWOHIO GUY wrote:
He crashed early moto 1 in front of the triple and was distant last, then a horrible start in moto 2. It seems to me that...
He crashed early moto 1 in front of the triple and was distant last, then a horrible start in moto 2. It seems to me that he gets stuck in the pace of the people he is in front of, doesn’t aggressively try to pass people which could point to bike set up, the one good start he got he didn’t completely drop anchor, he got 11th. The US bike is a production frame and the go bike they can pretty much do what they want with the frame and chassis to fit the rider. With a week off maybe he rights the ship a little bit.
Ken202 wrote:
How does that explain him not qualifying well?
Hopefully he’ll get it figured out.
Don’t really know. In Europe you have a whole day for qualifying to get to know the track and adjust. Here you get press day, and 2 15 minute sessions. He even said you have to lay a solid time down early before the track gets rough. Really hoping he turns it around, he’s working at Aldons now so that may change things.
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Press516 6/2/2019 7:51pm
6/2/2019 7:51pm
Yeah, it's the bike... Mosiman agrees, oh wait!

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JB 19
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JB 19 6/2/2019 9:04pm
6/2/2019 9:04pm
I've been curious for awhile how much different the GP bikes are with the custom frames they can tailor to each rider. I've wondered if they have the GP bikes so dialed in for high speed chop that riding a production based bike that gets busy at high speed has killed his confidence.
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DanDunes818 6/2/2019 10:17pm
6/2/2019 10:17pm
I think SX mindfucked the kid and his confidence is just gone at the moment. It's a total guess, but something is not right. I keep hearing people say the MX2 class is just weak and that's BS. No matter what you think about the track at the MXoN, Prado and Lawrence were amazing there and Covington is in their class of rider. For me, this is the most amazing example of how mental this sport is.
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themrtoad
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themrtoad 6/3/2019 5:41am
6/3/2019 5:41am
I also thinks it's very much a mental thing, probably combined with discomfort on the bike.

I'm sure he hasn't lost his talent, but he seems unable to find it under the circumstances which is almost as bad...

I actually believe he need to "private" himself out of this. Out of a van, without pressure and perhaps some old settings from his time with JM Husqvarna. This means things has to get worse before they get better, as in him loosing his ride.

Maybe they will agree to cancel his contract (this must be painful for both Husqvarna and TC) or take some kind of "time out"?

It painful to follow him so far since he moved back to US. He didn't handle pressure great in Europe either. Most of the time he started each season so slowly that pretty quick he was out of contention, and first then he started to perform. I know there were injuries involved but it created a pattern to me at least. He made himself a name in Europe under rather kind conditions. If he did good americans noticed it, but if he didn't it wasn't a big thing among fans in his home country. Now everything is reversed. He came as a factory rider specialized in the discipline mx/outdoor. He really needed to prove himself after an unsuccesful attempt at sx, and he also wants to prove he is more worthy of the ride than american riders riding for small teams or even privateers. To me it's clear that he can't handle all of the pressure and I feel really sorry for him.

It's hard to compare the pressure he is under with what Mitchell Harrison is experiencing in France right now, because he doesn't have to fail in his home country, and read about it on the biggest forum in the world in his native language.
Anyway respect to all of the riders, this for sure sin't an easy sport.

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Gollob's Steel Shoe 6/4/2019 8:27am
6/4/2019 8:27am
Have his extreme changes in form in the GP's already been forgotten?

He would have a month unable to break into the top 20 .....followed by being a patch of being a top 3 threat ...... followed again for complete lack of form for no visible reason...... to then start slamming in some wins

I might be wildly wrong but he seems like he has confidence issues ..... and on top of the usual acclimatising to new tracks, new team... Supercross clearly would have been a large mental obstacle and ultimately a setback

Who knows with the SX? .... but he is sure to come good at some stage with motocross ... it is just a case of when and for how long
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FlaNard
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FlaNard 6/4/2019 8:05pm
6/4/2019 8:05pm Edited Date/Time 6/4/2019 8:06pm
I'm really beginning to think it's mental at this point. I just can't see and benefit to Thomas or Husky to keep an injury quiet for this long with these results. Everyone who is honest with themselves knows that Thomas riding to his full potential is a top ten guy at bare minimum and likely a weekly podium contender. There isn't a racer alive who is capable of winning races in only the GP's or only the Nationals. If you can win in one you at least have an honest shot in the other. I'm cheering for the kid to turn it around but I've never seen anything like this in motocross before.
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DonM
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DonM 6/6/2019 3:48pm
6/6/2019 3:48pm
He just announced that he has Epstein Barr
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jpmoney57
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jpmoney57 6/6/2019 3:52pm
6/6/2019 3:52pm
DonM wrote:
He just announced that he has Epstein Barr
Oh that old epstein barr chestnut again...
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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 6/6/2019 3:54pm
6/6/2019 3:54pm
Sucks if true (very rare), but I've never heard of it affecting qualifying or 4 lap supercross LCQ's.

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Stoneface
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Stoneface 6/6/2019 5:58pm
6/6/2019 5:58pm
Isn’t there a phenomenon in baseball where a pitcher will lose “his stuff” or a hot bat will suddenly go cold? Lots of pressure at the top in both sports.

I’m rooting for the kid to turn it around too.
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Tim507
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Tim507 6/6/2019 6:06pm
6/6/2019 6:06pm
EB is mono.....had it in my late teens....yes it sucked! I fell asleep in the waiting room......
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kpiper
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kpiper 6/6/2019 7:21pm
6/6/2019 7:21pm
Tim507 wrote:
EB is mono.....had it in my late teens....yes it sucked! I fell asleep in the waiting room......
After some research...you can even catch it from using the same drinking cup. The article also said this...

"About nine out of ten of adults have antibodies that show that they have a current or past EBV infection"

Post a reply to: So...is Covington hurt?