American Thomas Covington to Husqvarna for 2016 MX2 Season

FIM World Championship MX-riding American Thomas Covington moves over to Husqvarna from Kawasaki for 2016; ditto for Max Anstie.

Husqvarna has confirmed its 2016 factory lineup for the FIM MXGP and MX2 classes, and American rider Thomas Covington is one of two new riders who will compete aboard factory Huskies in the MX2 class. The other is fellow former Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Max Anstie of Great Britain.

Covington certainly raised his stock in the MX2 class by securing his first career overall win in the class at the MXGP of Leon, the penultimate round of the 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship, in Mexico. Husqvarna clearly believe that he has the potential for more wins in 2016. The 22-year-old Anstie, who won nine races and finished third overall in the 2015 MX2 standings, is clearly in Husqvarna’s long-range plans. He has signed a 3-year deal that will see him compete alongside Covington aboard the Jacky Martens-managed Husqvarna MX2 factory squad in 2015 before moving up to the Husqvarna factory MXGP run by Antti Pyrhönen. Conrad Mewse will compete in the EMX 250 championship for Husqvarna, and Mikkel Haarup will compete in the EMX 125 class IceOne machinery.

“I’m looking forward to working with both Max and Thomas next year, as well as with Conrad Mewse in the EMX series,” Martens said. “All are great riders and exciting to watch on the track. Max is very experienced and was one of the fastest riders in the final rounds of the 2015 GP series. We will work hard to carry that momentum into 2016 and help him achieve his goal of becoming a world champion. Thomas is another young rider showing lots of potential. His race victory in Mexico showed what he is capable of.”

Speaking of Husqvarna’s MXGP team, Germany’s Max Nagl is back to fight for the coveted World MXGP crown that many feel he would have won in 2015 had he not been stopped by a leg injury suffered at round 10 of the series. Nagl was forced to sit out five rounds, and he wound up a disappointing sixth overall in the final points tally. With a return to full health, Nagl is expected to be a force to be reckoned with in the MXGP class again in 2016. Nagl will be joined by France’s Christophe Charlier, a familiar face within the MXGP paddock. Charlier earned a season-best sevent-place overall finish at round three in Argentina last season. He will look to improve on those results in 2016, although one has to wonder just how long-lived his tenure will be with Anstie waiting in the wings.

“We have a very strong MXGP team for 2016 in Max and Christophe,” Pyrhönen said. “Max proved himself as one of the best riders this year. Unquestionably the MXGP class is super-competitive, but it is our goal to do all we can to support Max in his quest to become champion next year. It’s also great to welcome Christophe to the team. He’s a strong rider with a lot of potential. I believe we have the right tools necessary for him to deliver some impressive results. In addition, knowing that Max Anstie will be joining the team for 2017 and 2018 ensures we have a strong base for the future.”

The opening round of the 2016 FIM Motocross World Championship begins in Losail, Qatar on February 27.