THOMAS COVINGTON BATTLES TO FOURTH OVERALL AT GP OF SWITZERLAND

ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING RIDER MISSES THE MX2 PODIUM BY JUST ONE POINT

Securing a strong third place result in the opening MX2 class moto, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider Thomas Covington wrapped up round 16 of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship with fourth overall at the GP of Switzerland. Collecting a total of 35 points, the American was just one-point from a potential podium result.

Continuing his upward momentum in this final part of the 2018 series, Thomas Covington quickly found himself racing in fourth position in the opening MX2 moto. Making a crucial pass in the second half of the moto, the American crossed the finish line in third position. Not getting an ideal start in moto two, he put his head down and wrapped up the weekend with sixth in the final MX2 moto.

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Thomas Kjer-Olsen had to dig deep following a crash in the opening lap of moto one. Doing his best and climbing to 10th in the first race, the young Dane improved to fifth in moto two for seventh overall at the GP. Thomas remains third in the provisional MX2 World Championship standings.

In the MXGP category, Max Anstie’s effort in coming from last to sixth in the opening moto was a memorable one. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing rider rounded out his strong performance in Switzerland with fifth in the second moto for a strong fifth overall in the MXGP class.

Starting the GP with seventh in moto one, Gautier Paulin was left with a mountain to climb following a fall in moto two. Crossing the line in 15th place, the Frenchman secured 12th overall at the GP of Switzerland.

The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team will return to action at the 17th round of the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship in Bulgaria on August 25/26.

Thomas Covington: “My riding was good throughout the weekend, which I’m happy about. I had good speed and did my best for some good results, but on this kind of track it’s really hard to make up time. I also struggled with my starts in both motos and this is definitely a point I need to continue working on. With better starts I’m sure that we could have landed another podium result here in Switzerland. We’re now getting closer to the end of the season and I feel I am getting stronger and stronger. I am looking forward to racing in Bulgaria and Turkey these next two weeks.”

Thomas Kjer-Olsen: “This wasn’t the best weekend for me. In the opening moto I went down on the opening lap and then had to fight from the back of the pack. We’ve made a few changes on the bike and I felt better in the second moto. Despite not getting the best of starts I pushed hard and managed to get fifth. Overall, I’m satisfied with seventh overall and I am now looking forward to the next two GPs. Next weekend we’re going to Bulgaria and I really like the track there. I hope we can fight for some good results there.”

Max Anstie: “It’s been a good weekend and a great way to start these three back-to-back GPs. We’ve found a great setup for this track and I felt very comfortable on my Husqvarna. In the opening moto other riders blocked my line right after the start and I lost a lot of time going off track. From dead last I gave my all to climb to sixth at the chequered flag. I put in a great effort and I used a lot of energy to do that. Luckily, I’m in a good shape at the moment so I was able to recover for moto two. My start was better in the second moto and I kept charging hard right off the line. I was happy to make a number of passes to end up fifth for fifth overall at the GP. It’s a good overall result that gives me extra motivation for the coming GPs these next two weekends.”

Gautier Paulin: “It was a tough GP and the results don’t reflect the hard work we’re all putting in. I had two average starts and this made things a bit harder. In the opening moto I found myself in seventh position and after some good battles I ended up finishing in the same spot. Then in the second moto another rider crashed in a deep rut right in front of me and there was no way to avoid him. Getting back on my bike I had a small pain on my right arm do did the best I could for 15th at the flag. We’re looking ahead now and I really want to do well in these two next back-to-back GPs in Bulgaria and Turkey.”

Download high-res images from the MXGP of Switzerland here. 

Results – 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship, Round 16 

MXGP – Overall 
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 50pts; 2. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 42; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 40… 5. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 31… 12. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 20… 14. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 13… 21. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 1

MXGP – Race 1 
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 17 laps, 34:48.985; 2. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 34:53.843; 3. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 35:11.589… 6. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 35:43.044; 7. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 35:48.611… 17. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 36:30.110… 20. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 35:17.651… 22. Michael Docherty (Husqvarna) 35:45.135; 23. Ander Valentin (Husqvarna) 36:16.562… 25. Yves Furlato (Husqvarna) 36:56.453; 26. Nicolas Bender (Husqvarna) 36:58.583

MXGP – Race 2 
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 17 laps, 34:40.600; 2. Romain Febvre (Yamaha) 34:55.468; 3. Tim Gajser (Honda) 34:58.322… 5. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 35:18.539… 12. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 35:55.090… 15. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 36:12.935… 21. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 35:24.853; 22. Ander Valentin (Husqvarna) 35:29.445… 25. Nicolas Bender (Husqvarna) 36:17.822; 26. Yves Furlato (Husqvarna) 36:57.136

MX2 – Overall 
1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 47pts; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 47; 3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 36; 4. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35… 7. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 27… 11. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 17… 13. Brent Van donick (Husqvarna) 15

MX2 – Race 1 
1. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 17 laps, 35:26.036; 2. Jorge Prado (KTM) 35:31.233; 3. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:38.805… 10. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 36:47.762… 12. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 36:50.699… 16. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 37:08.906… 26. Loris Freidig (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 37:32.320

MX2 – Race 2 
1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 17 laps, 35:10.156; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 35:14.877; 3. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 35:20.284… 5. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 35:28.929; 6. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 35:30.447… 11. Brent Van doninck (Husqvarna) 36:20.040 … 13. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 36:27.587… 21. Andrea Zanotti (Husqvarna) 16 laps, 35:56.254… 25. Loris Freidig (Husqvarna) 36:35.246

Championship Standings – After Round 16 

MXGP
1. Jeffrey Herlings (KTM) 733pts; 2. Antonio Cairoli (KTM) 675; 3. Clement Desalle (Kawasaki) 543… 6. Gautier Paulin (Husqvarna) 455… 10. Max Anstie (Husqvarna) 298… 19. Tanel Leok (Husqvarna) 102… 28. Harri Kullas (Husqvarna) 18… 30. Lewis Stewart (Husqvarna) 13; 31. Ander Valentin (Husqvarna) 8… 33. Aidi Lazaroni (Husqvarna) 6; 34. Rizky Hanif Kusparwanto (Husqvarna) 6… 43. Klemen Gercar (Husqvarna) 1

MX2
1. Jorge Prado (KTM) 692; 2. Pauls Jonass (KTM) 664; 3. Thomas Kjer-Olsen (Husqvarna) 519… 6. Thomas Covington (Husqvarna) 452… 9. Henry Jacobi (Husqvarna) 278… 15. Iker Larranaga (Husqvarna) 185; 16. Brent Van Doninck (Husqvarna) 166… 31. Muhammad Delvintor Alfarizi (Husqvarna) 28… 34. Diva Ismayana (Husqvarna) 24… 37. Hilman Maksum (Husqvarna) 20… 40. Jy Roberts (Husqvarna) 15… 44. Yoshua Pattipi (Husqvarna) 8… 47. Dylan Walsh (Husqvarna) 6… 49. Enzo Toriani (Husqvarna) 3; 50. Anthony Bourdon (Husqvarna) 3… 52. Andrea Zanotti (Husqvarna) 2