Interview with Owen Covell

With an impressive 1-1-1 sweep of the Schoolboy 1 title and a championship effort in the 125cc Jr. class, Monster Energy’s double National Champion, Owen Covell (NSA Yamaha) had one of the more impressive weeks out of any racer at the 2024 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn.

And not only was he recognized by his racing peers, which is huge for the racer who, prior to this week, had never been on top of an overall Loretta’s podium (since 2012), but Covell was also recognized by the AMA as this year’s Youth Rider of the Year for his efforts.

Winning the Schoolboy 1 and 125cc Jr. classes was huge for Covell as he was one of only seven racers (out of some 1,400 + entrants) to complete the 1-1-1 class sweep (Schoolboy 1). 

MonsterEnergy.com had a chance to catch up with the speedy New Englander from Plymouth, Mass., and got his take on what went down at Loretta’s.

Monster Energy: Owen, congrats from everyone at Monster Energy on your double National Championships – 125cc Jr. & Schoolboy 1 – at Loretta’s this past week – repping the Northeast U.S. well! The fact that you won two national titles sink in yet? You’ve gotta be pumped.

Owen Covell: Thank you! Yeah, it’s 100-percent sunk in. I’m very happy with my performances at Loretta’s and winning two titles. I felt solid all week.

ME: Before we get into the motos, discuss a bit for everyone your training program. What went in to getting you into the shape you needed to be in to race all out through that ungodly, oppressive summer heat in the middle of Tennessee?

OC: Yeah, my training program is very solid. I live down at MTF (Milsaps Training Facility) and could not be more happy about that. My gym trainer Jacob had me on a very solid schedule all summer and, honestly, Loretta’s was pretty easy for me.

ME: Well that’s impressive given the heat there. So you’ve been racing at Loretta’s for some time… 2012 to be exact. Eight times at Loretta’s and it was only 2023, in Schoolboy 1, that you were able to come away with a podium finish. What was it this year that allowed you to score double National Championships?

OC: This year was definitely my best year so far - considering my past results at the Ranch. I think for me it was more having the NSA Yamaha team around me. I could not be more grateful to have them, and getting the bike exactly how I wanted it. 

ME: Having the bike right’s certainly key. Starting with the 125cc Jr. B/C class, how much time do you spent training on an old two-smoker when getting ready to qualify at a regional for that Loretta’s class?

OC: I spent all this year before Loretta’s on the 125, which I was contracted to do. That and I felt like it was important for me to stay on the bike I was going to race. 

ME: Good point. Do older dudes stick their noses up in the air and nod their heads when you top off the YZ with premix and fire it up?

OC: (Laughter) Yeah, I think it  is definitely cool having people come up to me and want to talk about the (two-stroke) bike. And that definitely means a lot to the team and my mechanic knowing they built a mean bike.

ME: Yeah they did. On the 125s at Loretta’s there were six different guy that made the three podiums. What allowed you to make it to the top of that pile?

OC: I think the big thing me just knowing that I was the guy that should have been winning every single moto. The two motos I didn’t win were all on me. I didn’t execute like I had been practicing. But at the end it still put me on top winning the other four motos.

ME: The YZ 125cc and the YZ 250F are two completely different animals. Which are you riding more often? And does technique on one bike lends itself to technique on the other, or do you have to totally change your riding style, line selection, weighting, body positioning, etc., from one to the other?

OC: Currently, I haven’t really had the need to change my style just yet because I haven’t gotten the chance to ride my 250 just because I was focused on the 125 till Loretta’s. Now I’m going to get on a 250 and see what I can do. Can’t wait to get back to work with the team. 

ME: So different story in the Schoolboy 1 class where, in the 125 Jr. you took a 4-2-1 route to the title, you swept a 1-1-1 finish for the crown. Talk about how that Schoolboy 1 class went, from the opening gate drop on Moto 1 to the National Championship checkers in Moto 3.

OC: All-in-all Schoolboy 1 was very good for me. I just hit my marks every moto and made it easy on myself. Moto 1 to 3 was a big difference. I picked chip 32 in Moto 1 and the other two I had gate pick No. 1, so I definitely made it easy on myself with a good gate pick. I gave myself a gap then made it easy on myself the rest of the race.

ME: Sweeping a 1-1-1 title you sure did. According to pretty much all of the other racers’ quotes from the podium, the heat this year played a major factor at Loretta’s. Did you feel that way? And how were you able to deal with those oppressive temperatures and high humidity throughout the race day?

OC: Definitely. A few of the motos were very hot when I had to come through the pack, but the motos I got a good start made it easier on my body because I didn’t have to work as hard. Then after I was done I would hop in the creek and start my recovery process for the following moto. 

ME: “The creek” was definitely a common denominator among the Monster Energy Loretta’s champs this year. Lastly, what are your plans moving forward on dirt bikes?

OC: For me right now I’m taking a few weeks off to spend time with my family and rest, then I go back with the team and get on a 250. I could not be more excited to get on a 250 and get to work with the team and my teammates. 

ME: Thanks, Owen. And again, congrats from all of us at Monster Energy on your unreal week at Loretta’s.

OC: Thank you guys for everything once again. I really appreciate it.