Jason Thomas came to the USA with his eyes set on the GNCC Series and the goal of winning an XC2 class title. It may have taken a few seasons but he finally accomplished that goal in 2012 after a hard fought battle down to the wire. We caught up with Jason to hear what he had to say about winning the XC2 title and more.

GNCCRacing.com: How's everything going today?
Jason Thomas: Pretty good! Just here at KR4 working on bikes.

How has your winter break been so far?
It’s been good. I got to do a little riding last recently at a charity event and some other places, but other than that just relaxing waiting for some snow so I can go boarding.

That’s pretty popular with a lot of racers. Do you do much snowboarding in the winter?
I try to get out and do it as much as I can. It’s definitely a lot of fun and can even be a pretty good workout too.

What are your plans for the rest of the winter?
Work! Then of course relax a little bit and hope everything comes together for 2013.

So, how does it feel to finally get the XC2 championship?
It’s awesome. It was something that’s taken a long time to get and I’m proud of the way I did it. That was my main goal when I came here and it feels great to finally accomplish it.

What was it like battling down to the final round for that title?
It was cool. I really wasn’t feeling any pressure coming into Loretta’s because at that point I had given it my best shot and could have held my head high even if I didn’t win. I knew I was going to be happy with whatever result I ended up with because I gave it my best all season and that’s a rewarding feeling all in itself.

Does it make the championship feel even better knowing you had to work for it?
Well, I think winning a championship at such a high level is an awesome feeling no matter what, but to finally get one after you’ve worked so hard for so long is definitely pretty rewarding.

Is it even possible for you to put into words exactly how much the title means to you?
There’s only word one that I can think of that even comes close to summing it up”¦ Everything!

Now that you've finally got that title, what do you hope to accomplish in 2013?
It would be nice to say that I’m planning on going to XC1 on a factory team, but the support just isn’t there at the moment. I have to make a living so I’m kind of forced to defend the title and run out my last year in XC2 with the hope 2014 is kind to me.

What do you hope to accomplish beyond 2013?
From here, definitely want to take an XC1 championship. It would also be cool to help younger riders get the correct support and the money they deserve.

What was it like switching teams and brands after the third round of the series?
It was confidence boosting really. I knew what it was going to take to win. I believed in myself and surrounded myself with people who believed the same, and that was the key to success.

How did the deal with KR4 end up coming together so quickly?
I went out and talked to all the people who had supported me and told them the situation. People were more than happy to help, then Frank and I talked and in the beginning it was just a ride to the races but as the year went on we have built on things and have a championship winning team.

What is it like working with a family that whose history with the GNCC Series runs as deep as it does with the Keegans?
It’s cool that the Keegans know the sport even though things have changed quite a bit. They trust that I know what I’m doing and they support it, which is all I ask for and just that means a lot.

You had experience with KTMs prior but did it take you much time to adjust to it coming off the Husqvarna?
No, it was actually an easy switch for me. I had so much confidence in the KTM because it was ready to race. The budget I had was small and having spent so much time on them before it was very easy to trust in it. In the end it helped me get to the result I had hoped for.

Obviously both brands have their own little things that make them good but what were the biggest differences for you?
They were really two totally different bikes and it was a matter from switching from a 4-stroke with the Husky to a 2-stroke with the KTM, so a big difference was the noise. (laughs) Luckily it was a pretty easy switch though and I adjusted really easily.

Alright, before we wrap this up, who would you like to thank?
I have to thank everyone who has been a part of my racing to get me to this point through good and bad. F.A.R for the years I spent with them and the experience I gained both as a manager and mechanic. Paul Edmondson, for bringing me to America and showing me the GNCC Series. Rich Lafferty for being my biggest support in the early days when we lived in box vans on the road and for still giving advice and tips now. Shane Watts who has been huge this year with words of wisdom. Jimmy Jarrett for being a friend, giving advice and letting me follow him at the AWRCS, it was huge to learn from him. Tim at Funmart for bikes and support. Dave the Rave for everything from visa work to pitting me, he has been my friend since day one and my biggest supporter. My wife who has my back always. Frank at KR4 for believing and supporting me every step of 2012 along with his family and crew, Krissy, Brandon, Brian, Conner, Colin, Mike Z, Linda, Big Brian, and Big Frank. Plus I couldn’t do it without my sponsors, KR4, Funmart, Fly Racing, Maxxis,G2, Flexx, EKS Brand, Stuk MX, Pro Circuit, Clockwork, DT1, DP, Rockwell Watches, and AWRCS for giving back to the sport. And of course, the biggest thanks to my dad for giving me a drive and a dream in live.