Despite only scoring points in one moto so far this season in the EMX125 series with a fourth position in race one at Arco di Trento, it doesn’t reflect the speed that Cole McCullough has on his Fantic. Costly crashes and getting involved in a second moto start pile up ruined any chance of a podium. But the speed is good and he has what it takes to run at the front against some of the best young talent in the world.
We caught up with McCullough after the MXGP of Trentino to discuss his weekend and more.
GateDrop: We are two rounds into the EMX125 championship, and I definitely think it’s fair to say the results definitely don’t reflect the speed, so you should definitely be happy with your speed from the first two rounds but on paper, that’s the frustrating bit…
McCullough: Yeah, in Sardinia, the speed was there. I had the same two races kind of, I just started the two races outside the top 25, I came through to 18th or so but then the second lap of both races, I crashed. I went back to last but was hitting green laps, lap after lap in race one and two. I nearly had the fastest lap of the race coming through traffic, but another crash put me down. With the heat of Sardinia, I couldn’t nearly lift the bike up. You know, the speed was in Sardinia but just no results.
Here (Arco di Trento) the qualifying wasn’t as good in eighth, but the times were tight 0.3 would have taken me to fifth so it was alright. I just went to the gate but the same start outside the top 25 but kept it upright up through to 12th in the first couple of laps. I started picking my way through the faster boys likes Doensen, Ernecker, all the top boys and got into fifth. I caught right up to fourth but I couldn’t make my way past and then one of the leaders crashed on the last lap, so I ended up getting by him for fourth there in the first race. I was hoping for a podium this weekend but in the second race, another start crash, so I was right at the back and the bike was bent. I just couldn’t really do anything so just no luck but hopefully soon I’ll be up on the podium.
GateDrop: Just on the first round how did you feel going to the first round because it’s probably your first EMX125 season where you’re expecting to be a front runner really, maybe a bit over excited but that’s to be expected probably…
McCullough: Yeah, the Dutch Masters race, kind of made me feel like I am one of the top front runners. I was running up front there (got third overall) and there’s not many boys missing from them races. The first round I was excited because I know it’s probably my best track to try and win. I had the speed to win, I just couldn’t make it happen.
GateDrop: In the offseason you were racing, racing, racing in Italy and Holland, I feel like it was probably the best off season you’ve ever had and some unbelievably rough tracks as well which is great for GP prep…
McCullough: Yeah, you can practice all you want but you can never replicate a race so for the fitness, you just keep getting fitter every time you race. The more gate drops has definitely improved my speed and fitness.
GateDrop:  I have to ask you about Lierop, it is on my bucket list to go there someday, what was it like the race there? just unbelievably rough…
McCullough: It was good. I crashed both times there and a start crash but came through. Rough track but good for me for the fitness now but I’d happily never step my foot back in it. The suffering you have to go through (laughs) but no, it’s good.
GateDrop: Â The first moto here at Arco, it was a fourth, but it wasn’t an easy fourth, you did it the hard way having to pass all those guys. Â A) how did it feel to do that and end up over the line in fourth and B) that must give you confidence and especially if you can get starts it’ll make your life a lot easier?
McCullough: Yeah, I seen Doensen in front of me and I was like he’s coming back towards me, he’s not pulling away. I knew I needed to try and make pass on these two guys who are front runners and were expected to maybe win this championship. I went by them not easy but I passed him put 15-20 seconds into them. Doensen just won a race last week so I passed someone that can win a race. So, if I got away I probably could end up winning a race.
GateDrop: Just on the EMX125 championship, obviously nobody from home seems to do it and you’re the first one really…  Just how valuable has it been in order to help you grow as a rider and hopefully make a career out of this at least being a decent GP rider in the future…
McCullough: Hopefully, yeah… There’s not a lot of people from home doing GP’s or even from the UK. Even in the GP’s only Ben Watson and Bobby Bruce. But yeah, just with Crockard here and he knows what it’s to be like to run up front at the GP’s. It’s good to have Crockard and my Dad obviously.
GateDrop: Obviously you made the early decision last year to stay with your setup from last year, but you’ve made the switch to Fantic and you’ve got Maddii doing the engines… Just how much of a step up is the machinery and how far away is it from what those guys would have been on last year like Valk and Escandell?
McCullough: No, it’s the exact same bike. The suspension and everything are the same. The bike handles a lot better, even in hard pack. I haven’t ridden hard pack much this winter and came here, I’d say this was probably going to be one of my worst tracks, but it ended up nearly being my best. The bike handling wise and speed wise is a lot better.
GateDrop: Â Obviously you’ve got your own setup so it’s not easy on the budget, do you think long term this is sustainable or is the hope that you get a get a ride with the top team within maybe the next couple of years?
McCullough:  Hopefully I get it. I just need more results to get the teams looking but hopefully because it’s not easy just in the wee van on our own. Then if you win you only have two boys celebrating – me and my dad. The other boys have ten or so which is a bit better than doing it like this. The big boys have all the support.
GateDrop: The last time I was speaking to you, you didn’t really have a base in Europe, have you still not got much of a base and still hotelling it etc?
McCullough: Â Still no base. Still getting hotels and with the van. Just driving everywhere.
GateDrop: What is that like? It must be pretty difficult, I’m sure it would be nice to have somewhere…
McCullough: It would be nice to settle down somewhere but just budget wise it’s tough. I get away from school so that is alright. But no, it’s not easy.
GateDrop: Expectations for the rest of the year? I mean you showed your speed was good at Riola, you showed the speed was good here… two very different tracks so that must help with the confidence that you can ride all these different type of tracks…
McCullough: Â Yeah, that was my worst fear when I go to hard pack that I’m not going to be good but I showed that I am. I’d like to get on that podium and just getting on the podium because the championship is up in the air minute. Boys are DNF’ing left, right and centre so it’s open.
GateDrop: it’s a bit early in the season but have you thought about anything for next year yet? Obviously, it might depend on what opportunities you get but at the same time it might not be a bad decision to stay one more year in EMX125 and maybe go for the title and learn…
McCullough: Yeah, I don’t know yet because with the 250cc. I did do an EMX250 last year and scored points so I don’t know really to be honest. I will just see what the future brings.
GateDrop: Have you done many laps on a 250 4-stroke, or has it all been on the 2-stroke?
McCullough: No, I have never rode a 4 stroke. I have the same one Cas Valk rode last year. The 250 2-stroke Fantic and I rode it. I am fast on it down at practicing, so we’ll see. I might do Lommel this year in the EMX250 class.
GateDrop: Your dad revamped Magilligan, it’s completely different now from what I believe. What has that been like? It must have been a big help back…
McCullough: A big help. Â The GP boys that prep these tracks came over and done it so yeah, it’s good. It just doesn’t get as rough as a GP track would but it’s the same sort of layout and with the jumps. Big jumps and it helps to get used to it.
GateDrop: If you keep riding like this, you must think you have a chance of riding for team Ireland at the end of the year?
McCullough: Yeah, hopefully that’s an opportunity at Matterley Basin. I rode there last year but we will see what happens with the whatever going on back at home.
Interview: Andy McKinstry
Images: MX July
