Royal Distributing and Marin Bikes Presents MXP Chatter With Cole Thompson

When it was announced during the off-season that Cole Thompson would be moving to the MX2 class for the 2016 Rockstar Energy Drink MX Nationals, many felt that KTM was making a mistake as Cole was already a proven MX1 class winner. However, now that the 2016 series is seven rounds old and Cole Thompson has dominated almost every moto, no one can fault KTM’s decision making. With three rounds remaining and a 74 point lead, Cole Thompson is without a doubt in the driver’s seat of this championship chase. We caught up with Cole just as he completed his Tuesday morning practice session to get this thoughts on how everything has gone thus far.

MXP: Hey Cole, what is happening in the Sarnia area today? Your tracks must be in great shape with the rain we finally received Sunday night?

CT: I just finished riding actually and sadly it didn’t rain here. We had to get the water truck out, but the dirt here dries so fast that it didn’t take long for it to be dusty again.

I can’t believe how dry it has been in Ontario this past month, pretty crazy. Anyway, let’s get right to it. I wasn’t able to make it to Pleasant Valley but I did watch it on Conx2Share. You looked like you’re riding with so much confidence at the moment that regardless of where you start, you feel like you can win?

I’m definitely feeling pretty good right now and everything seems to be clicking. All season long JSR and I have been talking about getting that feeling where you just totally believe in yourself. You know that your program is working, the bike is working and you just feel like you’re supposed to win. I don’t think it’s an over confident feeling, it’s just a feeling that you deserve to win every moto.

It’s the feeling that every rider strives for?

Exactly, when I’m trying to pass those guys it feels like it’s just a matter of time, and when I’m out front it feels like I just know which lines to take and they work. I don’t know, Maffenbeier and Wright have been riding well but I’ve been able to be that little bit better for the entire moto.

On Sunday you were able to be patient and find the really good lines. That pass you made for the lead in Moto 2 was definitely well thought out?

Thanks, it wasn’t easy to follow on that track as the roost hurt pretty good. I was trying to be patient behind Alix for a bit, and then I was just like “let’s go.” I was able to set Alix up before the mechanics area and get underneath him. I’m not even sure if he knew it was coming. From there I just put my head down and pulled away pretty quick.

That was a great pass. I kind of saw you take a look the lap before in the same section, so I figured something was coming. There didn’t look like there were a lot of passing spots on the Pleasant Valley track. What were your thoughts on the track?

My brother also watched the race online and he called me right after and said how good the dirt looked. But, it was really deceiving because on top it was tacky and loamy but underneath it was so slippery. Other than that, it was cool going to a new track and see new fans, they definitely love their racing in Nova Scotia so that was cool. I heard that we’re going back there for the next three years, so I hope they keep working on it and try to make it more of a national track. It was short and the start needs work, but overall I think it was good for a first time track.

It’s always good to try out a new market and let some new fans see you guys race. As you said, it was a good beginning and now they just need to tweak some stuff. Moving on to the overall series, so far it appears like it’s gone exactly how you probably imagined it would back in the off-season?

I think it started a few months ago when I was racing SX, the racing there is just so intense and so fast that it really prepares you for anything. You have to make quick decisions and you have to make quick passes because the races are so short. So coming into the 2016 Nationals, I just felt like if I could get off to a good start then I would be in great shape. At the opening round I felt a little weird, but I still came out of there pretty good. Then we went to Nanaimo and a track that I really like, and things just started clicking. That is when the feeling that we just talked about started to build, that is when I felt like I should win every moto.

Well, you almost have since Kamloops. I always like to look at the defining moments of a series or even each moto, and I thought that so far Gopher Dunes was one of those moments for you. In Moto 1, you went down in the first turn and still won. Performances like that really discourage the competition?

Definitely, at Gopher Dunes I wanted to make a statement and let the rest of the MX2 class know that I was ready for the east. I’m sure after Round 4 in Regina, Shawn was waiting for Gopher so that he could beat me again, however, during the break I just trained even harder and was more focused than ever. I think I proved at Gopher Dunes that I was the strongest rider in the MX2 class and it was a great way to begin the tough eastern rounds.

The past few years you’ve been a rider who has always been near the front, and sometimes at the front, but you haven’t been that guy who wins every weekend. Did it take some getting used to in the early rounds just being out front and being the rider controlling each race?

Definitely, you know when you’re always running third or fourth and chasing riders, there isn’t that much pressure to ride perfect laps. But when you’re out front, you have to ride perfect and focus ahead, but you also have to keep an eye on what is happening behind you. It’s definitely something that I’ve had to adjust to this year, and I think that it’s not only made me a better rider now but it will really help me in the future as well.

You spoke earlier about how JSR has helped you with how you approach each race, but you’re entire team just seems like a well oiled, winning machine this summer?

That was the plan coming into 2016. With myself, Kaven and Millsaps, we all want to win races. Our bikes have been great all season long and each of us came into the season completely prepared. All of the team has been great each week, JSR, the mechanics, we’re all working very well together.

How has it been with Millsaps on the team? Are you as amazed as I am at his speed during the first five or six laps?

For sure, I don’t think I’ve seen that type of speed in Canada before. I was able to watch his second moto on Sunday and I couldn’t believe how easy he made that moto look. I was just out there and I knew how rough it was, but he just looked so smooth and fast. I told him after how good I thought he rode on that track.

I guess having Millsaps on the team with his credentials, Kaven who just came off two MX2 titles, and then JSR with all of his past titles, your KTM Thor Racing Team must have such a winning mentality to it?

That’s what it’s all about with KTM, whether it’s here or in the USA, they just want to win! Millsaps has been great at bringing such confidence to the team. He knows he can win and he expects us to win. Obviously Kaven hasn’t won yet this year but he’s so close, and if he does win, myself and Davi are going to be so pumped for him. Hopefully in a few weeks time, we’re able to hold up both number one plates and celebrate.

Well, if you guys do, they will certainly be well earned this summer. Cole, thanks for doing this today. Enjoy the rest of your week and we’ll see you on Saturday in Moncton?

For sure, thanks for calling Palms. Hope your boy is feeling better and we’ll see you on the weekend.