The past month has been a whirlwind for Cole Thompson. After competing at the opening two rounds of the 2024 SMX Series in the USA, the only plans he had after was to remain in North America and prepare for the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross Series. However, with a resume that included a second overall in the 2023 Australian SX Championships and a vast array of solid International SX results, Cole got the call to head back Down Under to ride for the Fire Power Honda Team. Cole will finish 2024 by competing in the Australian SX Series and the WSX Championships. With the opening round of that series taking place this past weekend in Vancouver, Cole was there and ready to win in front of his home country fans. After multiple challenging main events, including a 12-lap Superfinal, Cole ended his night on the podium with an impressive third overall in the SX2 class. We caught up with Cole on Sunday as he was getting ready to fly back to Australia to rejoin the SX Series there and also get ready for Rounds 2 and 3 of the WSX Championships in Perth.
MXP: Hey Cole! It’s Sunday in Vancouver. What are you up to, and how are you feeling after last night’s race?
CT: I feel okay. Last night’s track was challenging, so you really had to take your time and make sure you picked the right rut. But we made it through the night, and now I’m just killing time and getting ready to fly back to Australia tonight.
So you’re heading back to Australia to finish out the Australian SX Series. Will you also be racing the remaining rounds of the WSX Championships?
Yes, this coming weekend is Round 3 of the Australian SX Series. Two weeks after that is Round 4. After that is Round 2 of the WSX Series in Perth, and the final Australian round is in Melbourne. Finally, the final WSX race is in Abu Dhabi on December 4, and then it’s back home for December and Monster Energy Supercross preparation.
That is certainly a full calendar of events lined up for the next month. When we spoke at the SMX race in Charlotte, you didn’t have any of these races planned, so it’s great that you were able to find a ride with the Fire Power Honda Team. How do you like the Honda CRF250R so far?
The bike has been great so far. It turns really well and I think it suits my riding style. I haven’t changed much on it, but I am feeling more and more comfortable on it with each race.
Going back to the track inside BC Place Stadium. Was it as rutted and soft as it appeared on television?
It was soft and rutted and changed almost with each lap. But the layout was fun, and the track crew did a good job with the type of dirt they had to work with. Overall, it was a good event, and there seemed to be more fans there than I thought there might be.
Were you happy with the third overall in the SX2 class?
Yes, given the conditions and everything, I was happy with how the night went. I would’ve liked to have gotten better starts in the final two main events, but we’ll take third and try to improve on it in Perth. As I said, I really like the Honda, and I’m looking forward to getting back to Australia to do some more testing.
This entire deal appeared to be fairly last minute, so it seems like you’ve adapted well to your new team and surroundings, not to mention the amount of travel you’ve had to do in the past few weeks. For most people, travelling to Australia is a once-in-a-lifetime trip; you’ve gone back and forth like ten times in the past two years.
I’ve definitely logged some long flights in the past few years. Obviously, no one enjoys sitting on an airplane for 15 hours, and having to do it multiple times within a few weeks is hard on the body and mind. But it’s okay, and in the end, I think it’s worth it.
Definitely Cole! What you’ve been able to accomplish in the late stages of your career has been remarkable, especially on the International stage. So, the WSX Championships finish on December 4. This is a mid-week event in Abu Dhabi, as the final Formula 1 event is a few days later. That is going to be an exciting week in Abu Dhabi. Afterward, you mentioned that you’re heading back to North America to prepare for the 2025 Monster Energy Supercross Series. Do you know yet which team you will be riding for?
Yes and no! I’m working on something, but I can’t announce anything yet. However, the plan is to be on the starting line at Anaheim 1 in the 250SX West class.
Well, that is great news. Thank you for your time Cole. Congratulations on a solid finish in Vancouver and safe travels back to Australia.
Thanks, Palms! We’ll talk again soon.
