Five Minutes with … Dean Thompson
MARCH 22, 2007
By Danny Brault 2006 MX2 West champ Jimmy Nelson will defend his title with Team Toyota/ Yamaha/ Blackfootdirect.com/ Fox Racing this year.
Photos courtesy of Dean Thompson
There will be a slight name (and sponsor) change to the Blackfoot Yamaha team this year. Rather the pushing for exposure of Blackfoot Motorsports, the team will represent the new mail order company Blackfoot Direct. Dean Thompson, who has managed the MX team for the last few years, is headmaning BFD which will offer racers a chance to find all of the goodies JSR, Blair Morgan, Colton Facciotti, Jimmy Nelson, and Nick Evennou use on their race bikes--all in one place. We checked in with Dean to see how things are going with www.blackfootdirect.com, which went live today, as well as the MX team.
Dean Thompson: Blackfoot Direct is two things, what it is and what it isn’t. There has been a long time demand from our customers throughout Canada, to purchase products from us through mail order. Whether it be team graphics and apparel or various hard parts we use on the team. We never had the capability of being able to do it at the store previously; it is a retail store. The goal of BFD is to source overstock inventory from Canadian Distributors and to acquire exclusive products from international manufactures. By purchasing direct we can bring the highest quality products to Canadians at the best possible price! That’s part one.
And what’s the second part?
Secondly, we’ve been approached many times at races, whether it’s road racing or motocross, asking where they can get the parts we use on our bikes to make their bikes similar to ours. We’re focusing on the products that are currently on our motorcycles—Hinson clutches, DRD pipes, Works Connection billet parts, RG3 Clamps—and other specialty stuff. Also unique and special interest product like OGIO bags, One Industries graphics and casual apparel. We’re identifying what those products are that are a high demand but are difficult to get in a short amount of time without special order or order from a US mail order company. We’re just starting out and we’re trying to be different than other mail order companies in both Canada and the US. On a weekly basis, we will be receiving new product, including the unique and cool stuff, like the Cycra Powerflow fenders and shrouds that both the U.S. teams and Blackfoot are using. We want to cater to the racers and also those enthusiasts who are looking for those trick parts.
And so obviously Blackfoot Direct will be affiliated with the race team?
Yes. The motocross team will be called Team Toyota/ Yamaha/ Blackfootdirect.com/ Fox Racing. We’re going to be at the races, so people can see what we have to offer and will give us a chance to talk one on one with our customers to find out what they want.
You’re looking after this new venture, Dean?
Yeah, I’m the General Manager for Blackfoot Direct. For the racing side, I’m pulling back a bit. I still deal with contracts and finance in the office and I will be at some of the races. But with Andrew [McLean] overseeing the technicians and overseeing a lot of the stuff Joe [Skidd] did at the races. Joe is going to take care of some of the administration stuff in the office along with the weekend responsibilities of the team.
How is everything going with the team; where is everyone?
Everyone is getting their practice bikes now. Nick Evennou just received his; he already had some Yamaha’s. Jimmy [Nelson] has been riding. JSR was in Florida for a few weeks but just came back in time to welcome his new baby girl! He’s going back down to Florida next week. I just spoke to Blair yesterday. He raced his final snocross last weekend, so now he’s trading in the snowsuit for riding gear. He’s coming into Calgary next week to pick up his practice bikes. He’s planning to stay here for a week or two to get in some riding. Colton is currently in California.
It will be interesting to see Blair come into a season healthy this year. For the past three years, he’s entered every national series with minimal time on the bike due to injuries.
Even last year, he came off an injury. He had an earlier start than previous years. He’s one hundred percent this year; he’s absolutely pumped to be getting into the dirt right now. He had a rough go in snocross this winter and he can’t wait to get out there going. He’s always the sleeper. At the end of the year he turns it up, but this year he wants to get his momentum up at the start of the year. He thinks, now, not having injuries, he can turn his program up.
It would be awesome to see him back battling with JSR like the old days.
Yeah, exactly. I think the biggest surprise is going to be Colton Facciotti. I don’t think anyone has a clue how out of whack that kids program was in the past which was not his fault. It’s easy to forget that he is only 18-years-old and he has had next to no guidance or direction in the past, except for his family. He’s already three months into an extreme training program, where he is getting his butt kicked into shape by Mia and Cindy.
They work with Darcy and Dusty, don’t they?
Yeah. They are whipping him into shape. At first, he was like, oh, this is tough. But now he’s right into out. He’s in California right now and still talking to them. He’s actually paying to fly one of them down there to revisit his routine and keep going; he feels he’s ready to change things and go to the next level. He’s determined to show people he has what it takes to win.
It will definitely be interesting in the MX1 class this year. Well, good luck with Blackfoot Direct and we’ll see you at the track, Dean.
Thanks, Danny.
