UK's Jason Thomas made the risky decision to jump onto a Husqvarna TXC250 midway through the 2010 season and Fred Andrew's Racing stood behind him the whole way, landing nothing but podium finishes and even a win at the season finale-ultimately creating this year's FAR Husqvarna XC2 team. And what began the 2011 season with the duo of Thomas and Morgan Moss, turned into a one-man effort after Moss parted with FAR to finish out on his own Yamaha machine. Thomas has continued to develop the Husky to fit his riding style and it doesn't sound like that will change anytime soon. After breaking his hand just before Ironman this year, Thomas toughed it out and finished the season with a broken hand--pins and all-- to salvage a fourth in XC2 and seventh place overall. We caught up with Thomas right before he heads to Japan for the JNCC finale-the AAGP, where Thomas will represent GNCC along with Jesse Robinson.
You're heading to Japan tomorrow, are you getting excited?!
Yeah I'm pretty excited for it. It's going to be a good trip and I think we're going to see a lot of new things.
Who's all going with you?
My mechanic Joey and my fiancé Lacy will be coming along as well.
You finished the GNCC series fourth in the XC2 class and seventh overall, what are your expectations heading into JNCC?
I'm just going over there to have a good time and ride my dirtbike! I'm looking to just have a good experience, take it all in and take it easy.
You had surgery on your hand just before Loretta's, how's it doing?
I'm pretty sore right now. If it's cold over there, it's going to be more of an issue. I'm just going to go over there and take it easy, I'm not going to do anything crazy and get reinjured.
When did you actually hurt it?
I broke my hand the Tuesday before Ironman and I rode Ironman before getting surgery on it. They put seven pins in surgery.
Photo By: FB
Here's what the tough guy raced with all weekend at Loretta's
How do you think that affected your season as far as a championship chase at the end?
Oh yeah, I definitely think it played a big part in the end of my season and finishing fourth in the class. I managed to get a sixth at Ironman and my hand was definitely the reason for that. After I got surgery, the cold weather really affected the way my hand felt and Friday at Loretta's was pretty cold. I finished fourth Friday and second on Sunday and I don't think that was bad considering the shape my hand was in all weekend.
I'd say so! Talk about the battle you had Sunday with teammate Andrew DeLong.
Yeah I got off to a good start and I was winning for a bit there. Andrew and I both rode into the same line kind of and he put me over the bank and I rode in the inside. After that, I couldn't get around him because the dust was so bad and the pace was fast and I didn't really want to get hurt so I rode in for second and I think it's cool he got his first win of the year.
You've been with FAR for a couple years and it sounds like you will be again next year. Talk about your program there.
Yeah, I singed a two-year deal with Husky at the beginning of this year so I'm with them next year for sure. Obviously back in the day, Husky was the bike to be on and over the last couple of years they're starting to get back into it. Halfway through last year, I got on a Husky and decided I wanted to race it the rest of the year and that was good for us. I was able to get second at Unadilla and it worked out good our first year, I was comfortable on the bike and I think the bike is going to be really good in the next couple of years-especially with BMW behind the production now.
As far as my program, I bought my own house about five miles from Fred and I'm training with Joel Younkins right now. I ride by myself a lot, which has really damaged me for sure this year. Riding by myself doesn't do me any good and it's hurt me a lot to not have someone to push with.
Thomas will back on FAR Huskys in 2012
How has it been with DeLong on your team the last couple races?
Andrew is a breath of fresh air, the wind in my sails! The kid is motivated-I mean he works a full time job and still rides his motorcycle more than most of the guys who only race for a living and to me that says a lot about a person. Somebody who's going to work all day in the scrapyard cutting metal up and still wants to ride at the end of the day, that's somebody you want on your team. He's a good kid and he's down to earth. He knows what he wants to do and he's not afraid to go out and ride every day. It's good for me, he came at the right time and obviously at Loretta's when we had that battle it was good motivation for sure.
Next year you're back in the XC2 class. Any plans to move up to XC1 in the near future?
Yeah this season didn't end the way I would have liked and I am definitely going for an XC2 championship next year. I think I'll move up to the XC1 class when I feel like I would be moving up for a reason, I think being the seventh place overall guy isn't going to do me any good in the bike big class right now. I'm focusing on the XC2 championship for next year, for now.
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