Monster Energy/ Andrews Yamaha's Jason Thomas is looking for a few things. First of which, is a GNCC XC2 Championship and secondly --a girlfriend. Thomas came over to the U.S. all on his lonesome after growing up basically in the Welsh Forest in Wales. He is doing consistently well in the XC2 ranks.  What's his secret? Thomas said being here alone makes him even more determined than the rest.

To start off, where are you from?
I grew up in Wales, which is on the West Coast of England. It's a place Machynlleth. A little town in the Welsh forest.

What was it like growing up there?
It was pretty nice growing up there. There's lots of riding in the woods. A Welsh Enduro came there so there are always good trails to ride on. There are not many people around and everyone kind of knew everyone.

So growing up in Wales, how did you hear about GNCC?
I started riding Cross Country at the start of 2004 just to get fit for a motocross race that was the week after. I was riding British Championship Motocross them. Paul Edmondson told me about GNCCs and he came over at the end of 2005 and I came over with him and that was my first one.

How do woods compare here to what you grew up riding on in the Welsh Forest?
The trails here, there's more lines. Every time you come around it seems like there are more and more lines. There are more grass tracks back home. There's also nowhere near as many riders. So they don't get as rough. They're pretty smooth and don't get any mudholes.  They were pretty easy compared to over here. It took a lot of getting used to ride GNCCs.

What did you do to get used to them?
Basically I was here for 2006 and I did some. I had a broken thumb from Six-Days in New Zealand. I basically got used to them by riding them. Loretta's and last weekend, the trail is so wide. It's still hard to know where to go. Which way is the fastest line. It seems like those guys can pick better lines at races like that.

Do you prefer the trails over here or would you rather have ones like back home?
I think I prefer over here. Especially now that I'm getting used to them. It's kind of boring back home now. It's different every lap here. It's more about the riding for three hours. You have to really choose your lines and save your energy for the last hour.

Where are you staying while in the U.S.?
I stay with Fred Andrews. I got my motorhome parked up there so I stay there in Salem, Ohio.

I remember you talking on the podium at Loretta's about your family not being with you and how that makes you more determined. I think I saw your dad at the last race?
He showed up at the morning of the race at Titan. That was kind of a surprise. At the same time I know he can't really afford to be over here. It's kind of a mixed feeling about him being over here like that. It was cool to have him there. I tried to win one for him but it didn't work out. But, we'll get one.

Did you not know he was going to be there?
No, I didn't know. It was a surprise. I was walking to the pits and he was standing there. So yeah, it was a surprise for sure.

So why does that make you more determined?
Just because I know they sacrificed a lot to get me here. I know they are over there watching me. I know my dad wants to be here as much as I'm here. I just want to do the best I can. I want to show them how hard I'm working, and trying to make it pay off for all of us.

How has your first full GNCC Season gone for you so far?
It's been good and bad I guess. I've had some bad luck at some of the races. And some of the races have gone ok. I haven't had a race where everything's going right like Yadkinville last year. I need a lot of luck and that's something that comes with experience.

Do you plan on staying here for awhile, is that your goal to build up experience?
definitely plan on staying here for a few years. I have maybe 10 years left in the sport. I have no desire to go back and do world championship and enduros. I want to stay in the states and continue to do GNCC's.

Do you have any worries about doing that without your family?
Yeah, it's going to be hard. I would like to be in a position to be able to go back more and visit. At the same time it would be a lot easier if I had a girlfriend over here.

Oh ok! Go ahead and pitch that in the Tuesday Toolbox. Ladies, Jason Thomas is looking for a girlfriend to make his life easier!
It would definitely make it a lot easier. Just because it would be somebody that is with me. It gets kind of boring and lonely by yourself.

Any specifications (laughs)?
No, I'm pretty easy-going.  As long as they like having fun and are interested in the same things I am, that's good. That's the hardest part, finding someone who actually knows what racing a dirtbike is and wants to stand in the mud for three hours on a Sunday. That's pretty hard to find.

Ok. We'll work on getting you a girlfriend. So, are there any races in Wales that would compare to a GNCC?
I guess the enduros would compare more. There are a lot more riders and the track gets beat up a lot more.  Nothing else really compares

How did you hook up with Fred Andrews?
I basically stayed with Rich Lafferty and we were pretty good friends. He was good friends with Freddy so he contacted him to let him know I was over here and wanted to do it really bad and needed the support. When I came over and won that race we started talking basically. We arranged to do some the year before if I got my Visa, but I didn't get it.

What was the problem with the Visa?
I was over here and I went home for the Summer break. I was applying for the Visa and there was a complication what I was doing while I was here and the type I was trying to get. They said I couldn't come back for a year. I went through a lot to sort that out. In the end, I found out I hadn't done anything wrong, I had just called the lady on a bad day. It took a year of my life!

So are you pretty happy riding with Freddy?
It's been awesome having a team behind me and a group of people who want to do the same thing I want to do.  We all want to win. It's been good. It's turned dirt racing into a job instead of just a hobby. Hopefully I can get a win here pretty soon.

Have you ever been to Mountain Ridge?
It was the first race for Freddy last year and I only made a lap. I don't have good memories of that place. Now I've been there and now I know what to expect. Last year, I got a bad start and came through to first within about three miles. I just went too fast last year and I ended up hurting myself.

What are your expectations for the rest of the season?
I definitely want to get some wins and hopefully move up in the championship a little bit. Everyone is getting pretty close on the points. The DNF really cost me. I'm staying consistent. Hopefully I can get further up in the championship.

Well, best of luck. Maybe this will get you an offer from potential girlfriends.
Yeah hopefully, I need some love!