The Canadian racing season is officially underway with the Rockstar Triple Crown Series kicking off a few weeks ago. The first round was in Abbotsford, BC, followed by the second race in Calgary, AB. In only two weekends of racing, we’ve seen just about everything you’d expect in the tight confines of indoor racing. Paint is being rubbed, along with emotions, as Matt Goerke, Phil Nicoletti and Cole Thompson have provided great battles with no love lost between the three of them.
With KTM Red Bull Thor Racing’s Cole Thompson carrying the #1 plate from last season, there is a lot of angst from his competitors to try to steal that away from him, not to mention the impressive $100,000 reward which is given to the rider who has the most points following the 15-round series. It begins with four-rounds of Arenacross, followed by eight Motocross events and culminates with three Supercross races between Quebec and Ontario.
The defending Champ is poised to be a contender once again, as Thompson won the opening round in Abbottsford and finished a close second to Nicoletti in Calgary. Goerke has been right there as well, but crashes and bobbles have kept from the top step of the podium. Are these guys serious about winning this thing? Of course they are! And if you don’t believe me, go watch coverage from the first two events. Neither one of them has yet to crack a smile, unless they’re winning of course.
We caught up with the 25-year-old Thompson this week to see how things are progressing in his pro career as he’s stabled himself as a household name since turning pro in 2011.
MXP: Hi Cole, thanks for taking the time to catch up with us. It’s been a while since we’ve talked. Where is your ‘home-base’ these days? Canada, the US?
Cole Thompson: Home for me is still in Brigden, Sarnia. That’s where I grew up. During the winter time, I still spend my time riding and training down in Florida at the County Line MX track. It’s really been pretty much all the same, right from when I was growing up on mini bikes. I’m actually in Carolina right now; that’s where my girlfriend Chloe’s parents live and we’re here visiting with them. We have a supercross track here, so I’m still able to keep up with my weekly routine and stay on the bike.
How do you get your bikes to Carolina? Or do you have a few stashed in each corner of the country?
[Laughs] No, I have my van and my dad drove it back home (to Brigden) from Florida. Chloe has a truck, too, and we took both of my bikes from Florida to her parents’ place. For the first two rounds of Arenacross, we’ve been going back and forth to Carolina.
That’s good to hear. Must be nice to be able to enjoy some normal, down-home family between your racing.
It’s been nice hanging out with her family, for sure. We have a little dog, so we can’t really fly with it every weekend. We need a babysitter [laughs].
Before the Rockstar Triple Crown began then, you were riding mostly arenacross/ supercross to prepare for the opening four races, which are all arenacross events?
Not much arenacross, actually, but mostly outdoors. The arenacross wasn’t fully finished before I headed out for Abbotsford, so for the most part, I’ve been riding motocross tracks.
Of course, after winning last year’s inaugural Triple Crown—which included a hefty $100,000 payout—I have to ask: have you spent it yet?
No, I haven’t. Right now, I’m just saving it. In the future, I will probably buy some land or a house. Right now, though, I’m trying to save everything that I can while racing, and put it towards my future.
I’m always curious to know how top racers manage their money; some are pretty wise with it, but I feel like the majority are not overly responsible with the money coming in. Although, I guess that applies to the general public. If you don’t mind sharing with us, how are you with managing finances and the money that you’ve earned racing dirt bikes?
I have started my own business, a company, and it helps with taxes and write-offs. I have quite a bit of money coming in every year, especially being in the 450 class. My accountant is pretty good with moving money around and helping me out. I’m trying to save it as much I can. I still live at home so that helps. I have my vehicles paid for. Pretty much the only thing that I need to pay off each month is a cell phone bill. I don’t go out, I don’t buy clothes; most people who know me, they will tell you that I’m the cheapest person they know [laughs]. I try to save it and look at getting land or a house in the near future. I want to keep racing and putting away as much as I can, so when I’m done (racing), I will be as far ahead as I can be.
How old are you now?
25 years old, turning 26 this year.
Okay, getting into this year’s race action…. After winning the first-ever Triple Crown Championship last year, it seems you have a target on your back, along with that big red #1 plate. Between yourself, Matt Goerke and Phil Nicoletti, so far in the first two rounds of Arenacross we have witnessed some very entertaining racing. A lot of paint has been rubbed between you three and it’s creating somewhat of a rivalry as we prepare for the outdoor series. I’ve got to admit, for a rider who is so smooth and fluent on the bike, you certainly aren’t afraid to bump and grind with the best of them—and Goerke and Nicoletti are not some young punk kids; they are veteran racers and strong looking dudes! Could you provide some insight into your aggressive battles from this year and 2018?
With me being the winner from last year, it’s only natural that guys are going to want to go after you. Everyone is gunning for the number one spot and second is not good enough, and when you have three to four guys with that same mentality….
I may be smooth and try my best to ride flawlessly, but if I need to make a pass or bump someone out of the way, I’m not going to hesitate. We can’t all be friends; we are fighting for a job and that means making those passes and taking some risks. Going back to last year, sometimes it got ugly. I took a lot of flack for my pass on Colton (Facciotti). That wasn’t at all my intention for the outcome, but you have to race for wins—and especially during a 15-round series every point counts. You don’t know if by not taking that pass, it could change the outcome. We all have that attitude, and it’s kill or killed, fittest of the fit.
My stance has been neutral on your Facciotti pass in Quebec last fall. The end result was not good for anyone involved, but when you see the camera angle from behind you guys, his bike did kick out towards the end of the whoops and it opened up some room for you to get in there; even if it’s not a lot of room, top competitors like yourselves, it’s difficult not to go for it, I’m sure.
I think in the heat of the moment, he saw the win slipping away and he pinned it. But for anyone who is racing, if you see that front fender coming in, you normally let off. But he went for it and, unfortunately, it ended in a bad way, but it is what it is.
I can’t really recall what your demeanour was like when you were racing amateur, but as a pro, I’ve noticed you have a very serious look and approach to racing. Is that your ‘race-face,’ or are you typically a serious person?
I’m definitely serious when I am at the races. It’s business, and we’re there to win and for a paycheque. For me, the last few years it’s become more clear that if I want to make an impact, or continue making a living in the sport, then I need to be the guy winning every weekend. When I show up, I am ready to go to work. I obviously enjoy it and love riding my dirt bike, but let me put it this way: I don’t enjoy showing up on the weekends and getting second place. If it’s anything but a win, I don’t feel like I’m doing my job. When I don’t get those wins, I can’t sleep at night. It’s not a time for me to make friends; I need to make it happen now. I take a lot of flack for it—some people can appreciate it, some don’t—but I don’t party, drink or do anything but ride dirt bikes. But I have so much love for the sport and emotion for it. When I go out there, I do get mad when I don’t win and I am heated after the race. I literally love the sport and put so much into it. I think sometimes people take it the wrong way and think I am a sore loser. But even without making a living at it, I would be riding dirt bikes and loving it. It’s more than collecting a cheque, too. There is so much satisfaction going out there and winning and seeing your hard work paying off.
Thinking back to when you won your first 450 Pro National at Sand Del Lee, I believe it was 2013, what was your mindset like then compared to the last few years?
Back then, I honestly really didn’t have a training program. I was 18 or 19 at the time; I was like ‘Yeah, let’s go to the races!’ And I rode strictly off talent. I’ve been blessed to have lots of natural ability, but now that I’m 25, it’s a job. I’m working really hard on the fitness and mental side to be able to do it every weekend. Back then, I would win a race and then the next weekend, have some so-so results. I wasn’t very consistent, but now I feel that I’m consistent every weekend having a chance to win the race and the championship. Back then it was more about having fun, but now it is more of a different attitude when I show up to the races. But I bust my ass all week, and to show up and not win … it’s even tough coming back to the track the next weekend. I hate losing.
You spent most of your amateur career racing in the US and your early years in the pro class as well. You’ve had some great years in Canada, but could we see you dive back in the AMA Supercross or Motocross Championships anytime soon? Even if it was only for a race or two?
Depending on how things wrap up this year, and how my body is feeling, I really want to push for 2020 AMA Supercross. KTM has been so good to me and they’ve supported me in every way. Right now I get paid to race the Canadian Series, so it’s risky to go and race another series for fun. If people knew that, they might better understand why I race in Canada and not in the US. At the same time, I’m going to be 26 this year, and if I want to make an attempt to get back in there (US racing), I’ve got to do it next year and really put everything into it. It depends how this year goes. All those kids that you see in the 450 and 250 class, winning and running up front, that’s the group that I grew up racing against. I know amateur isn’t the same thing as pro, but I didn’t know enough when I first turned pro to give myself a fair chance. I’ve learned so much in the last three years, but I’ve only really been in Canada for the last three years. I’m ready to make another effort in the US and see it through. I’ve had the dream to make it to the top in Canada and the US. It’s cool battling for the wins in Canada, but I think most of us still dream of making it big in the US; it’s huge, it’s the place to be, it’s global. It’s more about personal satisfaction than anything.
Where do you sit in your contract with KTM Canada and their KTM Red Bull Thor Racing Team? Are they supportive of the idea of you returning to the US race?
I’m in my third year of the contract, which is the final year of my contract as well. For me—don’t want to speak too soon—but it would be crazy to be riding anything but a KTM. But if I don’t perform, it doesn’t make it any easier to get another contract. As of right now, I want to stay with the brand and it’s been great for me. They consider me like a ‘Dungey of Canada’ so to say. They like the professional way that I treat racing and that I do take it so seriously. Like I said, I don’t party and I just like to ride dirt bikes.
With your older brother, Justin Thompson, and his JetWerx team owning and operating the Pro National events in Canada, do you guys discuss ideas about the series much? Or do you keep things separate? Adding to that, do you feel there is anything that could be improved with the Series?
We don’t talk too much about the series. It is weird, in a sense, because my family does own it. Last year, I know people thought there was favouritism and that kind of thing, but for the most part, we’ve separated. We each show up to the race, do our jobs and don’t interact too much. We are too different people. I think the series is getting better, but it’s hard seeing the improvements because of some of the things like the bad dirt and some of the racing isn’t great because of the dirt and tracks haven’t been good. It’s been a learning curve, not just for the promoters, but for the riders as well. Now we have three series, and it’s demanding to do all three series in one year. The sport has been dominated by motocross in Canada for the last 25 years. It’s hard to embrace it right away. I think the lack of entries shows that Canadians are shy to race indoors, with the tight tracks and conditions, but once more people get on board with it, I believe it will grow. It’s a great show and I think it can grow the sport by having us racing indoors. A lot of the best racing is done indoors and I think it could grow the sport if we can make the indoor side of it work. It’s a ‘show’ and then we have the motocross outdoors, as usual. For me, it’s allowed me to show more of my skill-set and myself and others have more opportunities to race and make a living. It would make our year shorter if we didn’t have these indoor opportunities.
I’m a huge fan of the outdoor side of the sport, but I do see the value of racing indoors. Thinking back to when AMA Supercross began its run in Toronto, it was so much easier to convince at least a dozen of my redneck buddies from Peterborough to come enjoy the show. Really all I had to do was mention Toronto and a hotel room and they were on board. Maybe they were too loaded-up to remember the actual racing, but to this day, those same guys—who never liked dirt bikes—now follow all kinds of racing, from AMA Supercross to Canadian events to the GPs. I knew once I got them into the stadium and they could see it first hand, their minds would change. Compared to outdoors, it’s much easier to see the entire show and follow the race.
100-percent. Most of these events are held in major cities. There are restaurants, nightlife and things to do after the races. For a lot of fans, after an arenacross or supercross, they can go to a restaurant or bar; they can easily enjoy themselves and then can go home for the night. It’s putting our sport on display in front of new people, who wouldn’t normally experience it. Outdoors is great for the die-hard fans, but not so much for people who don’t know the sport. You want to make it an experience. My brothers and I grew up in America, where folks are authoring around the TV set to watch football or basketball, and now Supercross is turning into something like those sports. People are getting together on Saturdays nights, turning on the TV and watching Supercross. That’s what my brother is trying to do in Canada; it’s not just for the moto-people, but to get it in front of more people, businesses and grow it to a larger audience. We need to educate these people about our sport. You fly into a major city, not drive into a field, there are restaurants, there is less work for everyone involved and it’s a better show. It seems like a better way to grow the sport. Outdoor races can be hard to get to, but indoor racing encourages more people to come check it out.
For KTM, it’s less expensive for them to race indoors. They leave it up to me if I want to compete in them. For me, I’m like ‘Heck, yeah, I want to race—I want to race every chance I get.’ I mean, I will race every thing I can. If my team is going to GNCC, I will go. I’m being paid money to race dirt bikes, so if they have a bike for me, then I’m going. My brothers’ goal is to get dirt bikes in front of people who aren’t familiar with them. That’s how we will grow the sport and get more people involved and following it.
Thinking of social media, news sources and other kinds of online chatter, do you find yourself following a lot on what’s said about you, other riders or events? Or do you tend to stay away from the media side of things?
I see things here and there, but I try to stay off it as much as I can. I like to stay focused. But I read things…. For the most part, it doesn’t seem to affect me and I can’t control what other people will say about me and my actions. The people who are usually doing the talking, at least 90 percent of the people, it’s all fan-based. You have fans for different riders and they will state their opinions on what they think is right. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. If someone says something I might not agree with, I try to take it as someone has their opinion and they’re welcome it.
Plus, sometimes the negative things people say can be used for motivation for your next race.
Absolutely, a lot of times you can use that it way too. I’ve said that before in an interview; sometimes it can be good motivation to see what other people are saying or what other riders are saying in their interviews and use it as a tool to fire you up for next weekend.
Okay, before I let you go here: the Montreal Supercross returned last fall and I think it’s great for our sport up north to that event back on the map. It’s attracted huge spectator turnouts in the past, top racers from around the globe and provides an opportunity for Canadians to test their skills against the best of the best. For you, it’s an opportunity to battle with a guy like Malcolm Stewart and provide some insight into your thoughts of returning to AMA Supercross. Is that one event you would really like to shine at this year? Or it just another race for you?
I remember my first year racing in Montreal in 2011. It was right when I turned pro. I raced Walton in the mud but I didn’t really get a chance to show much of my abilities… I went to Montreal and that was really my first pro race, and then the following year I began racing AMA Supercross. I consider it my first pro race. I ended up racing the 450, which looking back I could have held back because racing a 450 is pretty powerful in supercross racing [laughs]. I was a kid and thought I could do it [laughs]. I ended up finishing second behind Goerke and beat a lot of good riders, like Dusty Klatt, Benoit and a pile of Americans. Surprisingly, I caught the flow and got second that night. That was basically my entrance into supercross and what really got me excited to race indoors.
There are a ton of big names that come for it. Malcolm Stewart for instance—a guy who has won championships and races in AMA Supercross—to have that guy come up to Canada and race is pretty cool. They always bring some tops guys like that, so whenever you can be in the mix with them, it gives you that feeling of being right there with some of the best. Last year, though, I struggled a bit and finished fourth overall. I wouldn’t say I was intimated, but I didn’t ride to my full ability. As I said earlier, I do want to go back to AMA Supercross in 2020 and Montreal will be a good indication of where I want to go with my career.
Best of luck in these next two Arenacross races, and for the outdoors as well. See you in Sarnia or Barrie!
I appreciate the call, and good to see you back doing some writing and following the sport. Thank you