JASON THOMAS CLINCHES GNCC XC2 CHAMPIONSHIP!!
5th Nov 2012
Grand National Cross-Country Championship - Round 13 - Loretta Lynn's Ranch, Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
KR4 Performance/Rockwell Time's Jason Thomas's GNCC dream finally came true on Saturday when a solid second-place finish was all it took for him to clinch the XC2 PRO-LITES Championship Overall. Amidst all the hype surrounding the one-point gap in the Championship battle going into the GNCC Season finale at Loretta Lynn's Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, Thomas remained calm & focused on the task at hand. Tension mounted & the rumour-mill went into overdrive at the very beginning of the three-hour race, when Series leader & defending Champion Steward Baylor Jr arrived at the startline with barely ten seconds to go before the off. Thomas knew he had to beat Baylor if he wanted to win the Championship, & it was obvious from the way he attacked the race from the get-go that he wasn't about to let his opportunity go to waste. By the end of the first lap though it was becoming clear that Baylor was struggling with some kind of issue, & the word on Pro Row was that he was unfortunately carrying an injury. Thomas's Pit-Crew got the 'Ride Smart' message to him, & from that point in the race onwards he was able to back his KTM 250XC down a little & focus on reaching a successful finish. For an emotional Thomas, the sight of the chequered flag at the end of the seventh lap was what he had dreamed of for four long years, a vision which must have sustained & driven him through the multitude of ups & downs which have characterised his relentless quest for glory in this tough, challenging & much-respected Series. Collecting his coveted number one plate from out-going Champion Baylor on the GNCC Podium, Thomas had many people to thank for their contribution to his years on the campaign trail, & is now looking forward to a well-earned rest from racing, before returning to do battle again with his Jason Thomas Racing/KR4 Performance Off-Road Team in 2013.