There aren’t too many 18-year-olds — or Vernon, Alabama, natives — who’ve traveled to more than 15 countries. Aside from the jet lag, Thomas Covington is soaking up every minute of being a globe-trotting motorcross racer. 

Covington expected the bright lights and excitement of racing. He won more than 15 national amateur titles and was considered a prodigy, earning sponsorships from Fox Head and Kawasaki before he turned 18. 

But when he was faced with the decision of cutting his teeth as a pro domestically or abroad, he took the advice of his Kawasaki team manager and opted for the MXGP World Championship series, an 18-week tour across the globe. 

It’s been a grind. 

Covington finished third in the first MXGP race at Qatar, but since then he’s finished in and out of the top 10 and has endured injuries, including a broken foot. 

But learning about different cultures, jet-skiing in Thailand, racing full-time, and living in The Netherlands have made the grueling season well worth it, Covington said. 

“In Brazil, the third round, I was running fifth, crashed and didn’t finish,” Covington said. “Then we struggled a bit. It took some time to adapt to the culture and all the travel. I’m usually running around the top 10 every weekend.” 

He described the year as a learning experience. 

“Most kids grow up and they race here in the U.S., where we’re known for being the best motorcross racers,” he added. “Like most kids, in Europe, they come to the United States and race. In the last four or five years, though, the MXGP has grown and become really popular. Nobody from the U.S. has really taken the chance to go over there and race, especially in their first year of being pro. It was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.” 

Covington is currently in the offseason following the season finale last weekend in Leon, Mexico, where he finished 15th and 12th. Covington plans to travel back to California, where he moved with his parents five years ago, before heading to The Netherlands for offseason testing and training. 

The 2015 season begins in March. 

Prior to heading to the last two races in Brazil and Mexico, Covington spent three-and-a-half weeks in Vernon, where he visited his family, including his 98-year-old grandfather, Charles Covington. 

Covington also spent time working on his 1966 C-10 pickup with his grandfather, city councilman Robert Covington. 

“I really like coming back to Alabama because both sides of my family are here,” he said. “I love coming back and seeing everyone. They really mean a lot to me…Someday, I’ll probably end up back here.” 

The off-time in Vernon almost didn’t happen. The turmoil between Russia and Ukraine led to a race in Ukraine being cancelled. 

“I’ve been able to rest up,” Covington said. “Sixteen weeks into the season, the mental and physical grind really wears on you, being on a plane every weekend.” 

Conditioning his mind and body for another global slate is Covington’s goal this offseason. Maintaining proper diet and exercise for optimal physical and mental endurance is key, but training as smart as he does hard will be his greatest test, Covington said. 

“Checking blood every month, your vitamins — I struggled this year with overworking myself throughout the week and not having enough energy for the weekend,” Covington said. “And the tracks being so different, it forces you to be stronger. I’d love to say it was all good and I expected it to be hard, but it was tough. After going there and getting third place in the first race, I expected myself to be up there every weekend and win some races. But after moving over there and seeing how intense the competition is, and seeing how smart you have to be about how hard you work, I’m realizing I need a year or two to learn.” 

Covington started racing when he was 5 after imploring his father, Mitch, and mother, Jamie, to get he, and older brothers, Alex and Tyler, into the sport. Covington went on a tear, racking up victories and attention from Kawasaki as early as age 8. He currently rides for Kawasaki CLS, sponsored by Monster Energy, where Mitch Covington is vice president for sports marketing. 

In 2016, Thomas Covington hopes to return to the U.S. and race supercross. 

For now, though, he’ll keep adding stamps to his passport.