Going for the W: Jason Thomas
Thursday, July 5, 2012 | 5:00 PM
Bell Sports has been the preeminent designer and marketer of branded sports helmets and accessories for more than 50 years. More world champions have worn Bell Helmets than all other helmet brands combined. Bell helmets have played a vital role in protecting sportsmen and women for generations.
Tweet
Advertisement | Advertise with Us
Share
Comment
Email
Print
It’s tough sledding for anyone in the 450 Class not named Ryan Dungey or James Stewart right now. Stewart’s won every moto that he’s been 100 percent healthy for and Dungey has won the rest. The chances of getting to the top of the box against either both of these juggernauts (or even one) are pretty slim. It’s David versus Goliath, Washington Generals versus the Harlem Globetrotters or even, Jason Weigandt versus spending any of his money. In short folks, it’s an uphill battle.
There’s one man, though, who’s not going to take defeat lightly, one motocross warrior who’s been there, done that and working hard to get his name in the record books. BTOSports.com/BBMX Palmetto Suzuki’s Jason Thomas hasn’t had the best of years so far but in what will most likely be his final half season racing AMA motocross, he wants to go out with a bang.
“Sure guys like Dungey are really going fast and yeah sure, he may have lapped me at every race this year but I believe that with a few breaks and my determination, I will win a race at some point,” says the ever-confident Thomas.
While failing to qualify at Lakewood (partly due to bike problems) and also failing to score a point in any moto this year could get most riders down, Thomas prefers to have a glass half-full mentality.
Although Thomas has yet to score a point all season he is still confident he can grab a win.
Simon Cudby photo
“I guess the question I have for anyone who doubts that I can do this is, why not me?” Thomas replies “I’ve been fifth overall before (Budds Creek ’06) and the way I look at it, there’s 40 riders on the gate and I’m one of them. I’m actually entered into the race, so that gives me a shot!” he says, as his voice begins to rise.
In looking at the stats, Thomas’s biggest problem appears to be qualifying position, average starting position and the very important lap time stats. These three key areas are where Thomas is lacking right now but he’s in Florida working hard and trying to remedy those issues.
“I just haven’t gotten the starts I need this summer” Thomas, in a rare moment of inflection, remarked “That Dungey guy and Stewart as well, they get the jump on me and I have trouble latching on to the back of them. I have these other idiots on the line that won’t let me get up to them. I’ve got to get better starts.”
Thomas is at the end of a remarkable career, one that started at with his first pro race at Gainesville 1997. That race is forever etched into all of our minds as the arrival of the storm clouds of dominance for two men, both of smaller stature and both from Florida. Ricky Carmichael won with a 1-1 and Thomas was right there with him with a 26-21. This was a day in American motocross where the torches were passed. Carmichael, long since retired, went out a winner and Thomas is hoping to do the same on his swan song.
Will Thomas' break out ride come this weekend at RedBud?
Simon Cudby photo
When asked about how he expects to beat Dungey or Stewart when he can’t even seem to get inside the top twenty this year, the long-time privateer grabbed this reporter’s recorder and smashed it into pieces.
Then he glared at me from across the table, stood up and started doing push-ups right there and then. Each time he rose, he looked at me with his 100-yard stare. It was as intimidated as I’ve ever been interviewing a rider. I knew then and there that the 450 Class is in trouble this summer. It may not be this weekend at RedBud, it may not be the following weekend at Millville either but hurricane Thomas is coming, oh yes it is. Better grab a hold of something while you can.
It appears that this man isn’t taking defeat lightly at all.
*** No tape recorders were actually hurt in this interview ***
Did you like this article?
Check out ON TOUR
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
The Monster Energy Supercross tour is staffed by an intensely dedicated group of sponsors and support staffers. Here’s what life is like on the SX road. Page 136.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
I can't tell if this entire article is supposed to be a joke, or not? I mean this guy has been around since the beginning of time, he can barely even qualify for a national and they are talking about him possibly winning? Then he calls the other guys on the track idiots because he isn't skilled enough to keep up with anyone out there.
Wish he would just retire already..
They should rename the article, 'Going for a point.'
This article just made my day (yeah, it's been a thriller haha) - ROCK ON JT!
I love JT$ - Yes, he's been around for a year or two longer than some, but he hangs in there thru thick & thin, keeps a great attitude & goes back to the grindstone. His love of the sport is as strong as any rider who has achieved "legend" status. Being landed on last year was a travesty, but JT rehabbed after surgery and is once again on the starting line, many would have called it quits. I always stop by the rig to wish him well when I attend a race, and am sometimes amazed that his serious & unsmiling face, or glare, can be that of a guy with an hysterically funny sense of humor. He's a nice guy - I'd love to see him back on Twitter because he can inevitably illicit a laugh or put a smile on my face. I will miss seeing him on the line once he's no longer there.
@ guest...this is a spoof.Go get 'em JT!
Hahaha, funny article! Best of luck to JT$!
Hahahah "he smashed the reporter's recorder into peices then started doing push ups" hahahahahah!!!! That is so funny, This guy is going down as a legend.
The vid you did of his grueling workout at the Reed compound a few months back just shows your article is right on target. Gotta love it!
Is the interview on camra??? I wana see it. An athelte clearly out of his prime and out classed, trys to prove he can win by smashing things and doing pres ups.
I thought Jason Thomas was busy racing the tour de france this weekend?
I automatically cheer for any rider that says "rode well"....and not the nails-across-the-chalkboard "rode good". JT is the man just for that.
His Dad took me to Gatorback when I was 15 years old, around 1976 I was on a Yamaha MX 175 and crashed my brains out, so what ever his son can do, laped or not is better than all the people reading this article. GO JT !
Good Gawd, 'guest'. YES it's a joke, and what's with your 'wish he'd go ahead and retire already' remark? Thomas is a good dude. And OK Matthes, I'm on board - ready to see JT$ RIP through the field and pass Dungey like he's standing still! :^)
JT$ Should retire soon and be a commentator, and co-host. He's enjoyable to listen to, track experience and a racers mind!
JT$ rules! You know it, I know it.
Thanks that was funny. I needed something moto-related to get through the rest of the day. JT is bad ass just to be out there. Stoked for him and I always look to see where he is every race.
I see it like this, there are over a million of us at home racers that can't make the gate of 40 riders. So JT is a winner in my book, he is out doing it, 41 and the rest of us are at home or on the fence talking about what we would do!
I know it's a joke, but I still felt bad for JT just reading that. 40 guys line up, only 1 will win. Some (not all) of them are trying every bit as hard as the winner. JT has done amazingly well for himself. I hope he has an equally long career doing podcasts with Mathes, Weigant and Ping.
Great article, funny :). I love these privateer/small team guys, they are usually really cool dudes and not so stuck up. They have much more of a appreciation for just making a main! I agree, he would make a GREAT commentator!
GO JT $
"Can't tell if this entire article is supposed to be a joke"? Come on! Thomas has definitely had a respectable career, including a couple of wins at the Montreal SX (last in '09), SX wins in Europe, top 15s in AMA SX and MX series, and 16 seasons as a pro. Not bad at all.
He's 33, btw.
Its amazing the press this guy gets. This guy is the true leader of the "never was" clan. He obviously knows people in the sport and must have deep pockets..parents or family probably own BTO. In any event...article is a total laugher... He couldn't Podium if 36 of 40 riders withdrew in a race
Unfortunately Hurricane Thomas lost steam over Florida and now been down graded to a tropical depression.
My GOD guest I hope you're joking....
PS - JT is a good dude...hope he managed to score a point this summer, if not a WIN!
This is like the banker owned mainstream news ! Matthes, did you get ahold of some of that blotter I ate at the 1980 Rolling Stones concert in Lexington ? Next week do an article on the Easter Bunny......................jeeze. Obviously some $ power somewhere for this article to appear.
Sarcasm is apparently lost on some people. If you can't find the humor in this article then you might wanna lighten up. If you knew anything about either the author or the subject, you would realize the joke. Jeez guys
Hum?? Did Jason's mom get ahold of racerX password from the AMA semi, to rewrite this story, or is Steve Matthes really just digging to try and keep some fans still tweeting him even though tweeter is dying. Come on MAN!!!! fore real has JT ever got a top ten in his Career? Name where and when good question for trivia cause there might only be one in history. Spend some time worrying about top riders and the future of the sport be fore it has its final year on TV.
@Mr-Mx - you are spot on with your comment on the speed of those that qualify or attempt to qualify for the nationals.
Used to watch an old friend, Travis Hodges, absolutely smoke any expert he would race against and then have to watch him really struggle to make a supercross main or a national. It's amazing how fast anyone who lines up on the gate of a pro race really goes relative to all of the keyboard racers out there.
hahaha this article made my day ...yeeeeaah JT get on it you're a winner in my book and you got good press
That is that attitude of a true racer.
sorry, the attitude
Jason thomas is on drugs if he thinks he will win. how about try get top 20 bit more realistic
You have to be on drugs not to know they were joking around!!! Some of you guys are unbelievable!
JT when a woman steals your $ title then there is no chance to beat the men dude. However you had a good career and who knows it might keep going for a while, will be rooting for you.
This article was amazing. Made my day . Good job Matthes . Hope you get some points this weekend rocky