MXP Chatter With Cole Thompson

With the opening round of the 2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series just over a week away, all of the riders are busy making their final preparations for Abbotsford. One rider who cannot wait for this season to begin is last year’s Triple Crown Champion Cole Thompson. Since January, Cole has been training down at MP County Line as he prepares to duplicate the success he had in 2018. With just nine days until the gate drops at Round 1, we caught up with Cole to see if he’s ready to defend his #1 plate.

MXP: Hey Cole, we’re under ten days now until the opening round of the 2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Series. How are you feeling and how has the training been going?

Cole Thompson: Everything has been going great and now we’re counting the days until it’s time to fly out to BC. This off-season has definitely gone by fast, it seems like yesterday that we wrapped up the title in Hamilton. But yeah, I’m ready and my team is ready to go so now we just have to show up and get going.

Did you train mostly at MP County Line this winter?

Yes, I really like it down here. The track and the facility is great and Panama City isn’t too far away, so there is a lot to do there. I don’t know, I’ve tried different training facilities over the years but I just like it here.

You took some time off after the final round in Hamilton last year. When you did start training again for the 2019 season, and did you feel any different as the new Triple Crown Champion?

I wouldn’t say different, I just felt more confident in my bike set-up and with my program. With last year being my first year back racing in the 450 class it took me a while to figure out how to set my bike up. In the 250 class, it seems like you’re more concerned with making the bike fast and durable. Sometimes you don’t worry so much about the chassis set-up. With the 450, they’re already fast so the biggest thing is making them handle well. During the first half of the outdoor series last summer I struggled to find that balance, and my results and confidence suffered. After the Sand Del Lee round we were able to figure some things out and I was a lot more comfortable on the bike. So with having said all of that, from the moment I started training for 2019, I just felt better in all aspects of my program.

A few weeks back you raced a one-off race in Tampa against some pretty good riders. You ended up finishing in third behind Tyler Bowers and Mike Alessi. That result must have felt good?

I felt really good in that race and I think I had the speed to win the main event, I just didn’t get the start I needed.  However, it was fun to have to battle from behind and pass a bunch of guys. You know, you can practice all you want but you need some gate drops to really be ready for the season. When you’re just at the practice track it’s easy to control your breathing, but in a race it’s easy to hold your breath and get tight. I forgot about that Tampa race until Marco Cannella brought it up one night at dinner and that got me thinking about going this year. It was a fun race and I ended up making some money, so that’s never a bad thing.

With that Tampa race being just a couple of days before the Daytona SX, did you consider signing up and racing?

We thought about racing Daytona, even before the Tampa race, but it just never really made sense. I think to race any events in that series you have to have the absolute best set-up you can. I don’t have a set of full SX suspension so it just didn’t make sense to go to Daytona and try to race. So yes, I thought about it, but in the end it just wasn’t a good idea.

Would you like to race some more US Supercross events in the future, or is the plan to just focus on Canada?

I always think about it and of course I’d like to. But I think it would be hard to do now with the Canadian series being so long.

So the 2019 AXTour Series begins next weekend in Abbotsford. As the defending champion you must have some pull. Have you been assured that the dirt is going to be better?

(laughs) Yeah, I’m sure it’s going to be a better event all around. I think having it later in the year is a good thing. That February race last year was too early. I think these first two west rounds are going to be great. Obviously, the racing on the track is going to be tight. Hopefully we see some good crowds. I’m definitely looking forward to getting back racing.

MXP: Is your plan to fly back to Florida after the opening round, or will you stay out west and just travel to Calgary?

We looked at staying out for the week, but it just becomes too complicated when you try to do that. I don’t think there’s anywhere to ride out there during the week, so it’s better to just come back to Florida. After that I’m hoping the weather improves back home and I’m able to ride there before Sarnia and Barrie.

Well, it’s going to be good to see you and the rest of the riders back on the race track next weekend. As the defending Triple Crown Champion, you’re the rider everyone else is gunning for. Do you feel any more pressure right now than you did a year ago?

No, I don’t think so. I mean, obviously there is more expectation heading into this season but I’m excited to take what I learned last year and see what happens. It’s definitely not going to be easy, but I have a great team and a solid program again for 2019.

Thanks for talking to us Cole. Enjoy the last week of your off-season, so to speak, and we’ll see you in Abbotsford.

For sure, good talking to you. Thanks for calling!