JASON THOMAS - 'THE HARD WAY' - PART 13.
14th Aug 2013
“The Hard Way”
DirtWise Schools/KTM-Parts.com/Maxxis team racer Jason Thomas reached the top the hard way. Enjoy as he tells of the life defining moments during his inspiring journey from growing up in the mud bogs of the Dyfi forest in Wales, England to now defending the GNCC Pro XC2 Championship that he won in 2012.
Hi everyone, I’m back at it again. It’s been a little longer between blogs as I haven’t been racing GNCC due to the summer break, however just because it’s summer break doesn’t mean I have been sitting on the sofa getting fat, ha!
So yeah, since the last time I checked in I have been doing a heap of DirtWise schools and having fun along the way. First stop was over by Boston, MA. The week before I headed over there I was able to purchase my first road bicycle so I took it along so as I could get some miles in on it. The location for the school was out in the sticks a little and I have never seen so many people out running and cycling. Riding alone on the road is pretty sketchy and I had a moment the one day when my iPhone, which I had velcroed to my bars, fell off onto the road. More concerned with the phone than my life, I swerved and hit the brakes, resulting in a very pissed off driver behind. Ooops! Anyway, as always it was a good few days doing the school and everyone really enjoyed themselves, plus they all made huge improvements in their riding skills.
After Boston I set off for Canada where I spent the week leading up to my next school with some old friends of mine. I met the Collett family about 4 years back when I was up in Canada riding for KTM. We became friends as they were a small group of English speaking people amongst what was mainly a French Canadian race crowd. Plus, they like to party and I’m always down for a few beers and a good laugh, ha! So like I said, I pulled in to their place on Monday and we started with a nice cold beer! As always Kyle who is the son of Natalie and Kerry was keen to talk racing. Kyle was a little ripper when I raced up there and has always been a big fan. He doesn’t race anymore as his hockey career is very promising, and my advice to him was “Keep whacking pucks kid, there’s more money in that job than mine!”. But I know Kyle’s heart is in racing which is the exact situation I was in at his age with football (soccer) back in England. I wish him the best of luck with whatever path he takes – there’s always a place for you to sleep at my place buddy.
The temperature in Canada was pretty insane that week and I decided to switch my pushie gear for a pair of Speedo’s and flip flops, then I headed off to Canada’s biggest water park which happens to only be 30 minutes from where I was staying. Being as we were in Quebec I fit right in with my Speedos on, so I set off for the biggest slides I could find….. They were all pretty sick and got the blood pumping a little but I noticed the huge wave pool and wanted some of that action.
We got a quick icecream first and then hit the wave pool. At the front of the pool it was about 10 feet deep and the waves were about 15 feet. Being a bit stupid and brave, or maybe just really stupid, I set off straight to the front and waited for the waves to start. I was joined by a youngish fellow with no teeth who proceeded to tell me “It gets pretty wild up here, eh!”. I wasn’t sure if that was a question or a statement but soon found out. The waves started rolling and by the 3rd one I was having trouble breathing due to the ice cream I just ate, by the 4th wave I was taking on water, and the 5th wave saw me being saved by the life guard!!! Ha, nothing like drowning in front of 300 or so kids! So after that we went back to the easy stuff, but me being me I couldn’t let the waves get the best of me so I went back an hour or so later and beat the beast. Chuffed to bits about conquering it, I called it a day after about 20 minutes of staying alive.
The rest of the week we did a bunch of jet skiing, wake boarding, and drinking a lot of beer while having a good old time – thanks to the Colletts for being great hosts and I hope to see them again soon.
Back on the road, I was off to my next school where we were treated to some of the best trail I have ever ridden. Doing the school was so much fun and I was able to really rip it for the demos! It’s one thing to just stand there and tell the students to “do this, do that” like what some other Instructors out there do, but with the DirtWise schools we really pride ourselves on demonstrating exactly how you should be doing things and this location was very rewarding for me demonstrating, and the students watching.
After this school it was home for a week where I was able to shred on the pushie (bicycle) and lay down heaps of miles, as well as getting into the JYT gym with my trainer Joel. It might be summer break but the doesn’t mean the work and preparation for a top level racer stops. Canada was a little break away, but then my new training program started.
Another DirtWise school in Michigan was next and we had some more perfect conditions plus some excellent trail which made for a great weekend.
That brings me up to last weekend where I took a weekend off from schools and set about doing a local “moto triathlon” which consisted of racing a motocross, flat track, and hare scramble event. Riding the little four banger was pretty tough in the motos against Jimmy Jarrett and Chris Bach, but I was able to smoke them guys out of the gate and held my own until the flag, eventually ending up 3rd. The flat track was a little different though…… Running it on Saturday night meant it was pretty damp so I really didn’t have a feel or desire for it, therefore I ended up with a 4th.
Sunday rolled around and there were some heavy hitters on the line including Jarrett, Bach, Delong, Scott Grills, and even former GNCC XC2 Pro Champion Justin Williamson. As usual my bike didn’t start and by the time it did all them guys were in the woods. I put the hammer down and the first one I passed was Williamson, then followed that with a trip over the hangers! I got up and passed him again, then followed that with a trip into a tree, then passed him again and then finally caught the others.
I had a pretty good idea of my speed after decking it, and having started last but getting to the front fast, however my mistakes put me behind Bach and Delong. I had a really good battle going with these guys as always, that was until with one lap to go when I buried it, and I mean BURIED! Due to my JYT training though I was strong enough to pull it out. Jimmy passed me, and Delong was gone, however I’m in good enough shape that I could sprint again so as to catch and pass Jarrett and Delong and thus take 2nd. It was a great result, and encouraging for the rest of summer.
Now’s the time of the year for my bikes to be switched out for freshies so on Wednesday morning I set off for AOMC to pick up my new scoots for the remainder of the year. I’m really switching it up this summer and going back on a smoker. On the way home from AOMC I got word of a County Fair race in Ohio paying big money to win ($1000)!!!
I pulled into the event and ripped the brand new, never been started KTM 125 out of my van and couldn’t wait to rip it! It’s been about 10 years since I last rode one and boy have I been missing out. It was sooooooo much fun to throw it around and make it sing!!! A few other top guys showed up including Duvall, Mead,and Layne Michael. The track looked fun and each of us had sections where we were faster than the other. The main was a Le Mans style start and consisted of 12 laps, 2 of which you had to take the slower “joker” lane. I got to my bike fast and railed into the first turn right beside Sam Evans (my first holeshot this year – pity there was no money on offer for it!). I led the first lap and decided to get the two joker runs over with right away. Duvall knew my plan and he did the exact same thing. A little bobble by me on lap three allowed Thad past and we then went at it until the end, lapping pretty much everyone else by the time the chequers flew.
Like I said, it was big money to win it, and Thad took that, but for 2nd place I made $700. It’s pretty crazy that a little County Fair race is able to payout that much to the Pro riders but the NATIONAL Championship we all race can only match that much for the XC1 class, and only half that much for XC2……..
I would like to say well done to the organizers on a top job and to thank you for giving back to the Pro guys who put on a show and have bills to pay. I can’t wait until the next one!
That wraps it up for now. I’m currently watching Mad Max, then tomorrow I’m off to Canada for more DirtWise action and hopefully a quick rip at a track that Wattsy says is epic. I’m pretty confident it is, and on my 125 it will be an absolute blast!!!
Until next time, believe in yourself and trust everything happens for a reason.
Boom, boom, POW!
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