Five Minutes with … Dean Thompson
MAY 14, 2008

Blackfoot's Dean Thompson does his best Terminator impression.  You can expect that same intensity from the BF boys at Ste-Julie next weekend.

photo: Jason T. Griffiths

By Danny Brault

For the first time since 2001, the Blackfoot Team won’t have a #1 plate sitting underneath their awning. Sean Hamblin did win the MX2 West title in 2000, but he switched to a Two Wheel KX250 the following year. Jimmy Nelson has a shiny new  #1 plate from his second consecutive MX2 West championship last year, but he’s moved up to MX1 for `08 and won’t have a chance to show it off. (I’m sure the team has it hung up outside the side door of their semi for all to see, however.) After an up and down season in 2007, Team Toyota Yamaha/BlackfootDirect.com/Fox Racing is focused on bringing home two #1 plates this summer. With Facciotti, Nelson, and Morgan in MX1, and Aron Harvey in MX2, they definitely have the star power. We caught up with team manager, Dean Thompson, to see how things are going.

RXC: Dean, so what’s going on with Team Toyota Yamaha/BlackfootDirect.com/Fox Racing?
Dean Thompson: [lLaughs] That’s a mouth full! But you got it down though. It’s going well. We were down in Georgia for the photo shoot, testing, and re-servicing some bikes while we were down there.

How is everyone looking?
They are looking really good! It’s unbelievable having JSR in the role of rider/manager and it is paying huge dividends. We’re leaps and bounds ahead of where we’ve ever been heading into a season.

So Colton, Aron Harvey, Blair, and JSR, and everyone were at the shoot?
Yep!

How long has Blair been down south?
Blair was there for the shoot and he’ll be there for two weeks.

Wow, he’s going to get more riding in than ever before heading into the first round. Usually he hops off a sled and right onto a bike.
I know! Blair’s the type of guy who takes two or three rounds to get going. This year, however, I think come Ste-Julie he’ll be peaking.

I’m still a huge fan of Blair and would love to see him come through for one more win. Can he do it, Dean?
It’s just weird, because when we went down there, even JSR said, it doesn’t look like he’s ever been off the bike. He’s been riding a bit at home, but the weather turned to crap. He looks so comfortable, though, and he maintains his fitness from snocross; he never really has an off-season.

Blair Morgan looks better than ever on his Blackfoot YZ450F.

I guess the guys don’t get to race a local event before Ste-Julie?
Jimmy is likely going to California to race the Prequel. It’s not in Glen Helen, but it’s equal to what the Prequel used to be like. It’s in Northern California. The rest of the guys are focusing on what they’re doing. It’s good because they are all in one spot racing motos against each other. From starts to sprint motos to full motos, they are getting lots of practice.

Can Colton keep up with JSR on the road bike yet?
[Laughs] Yeah, he’s up there now. He’s definitely getting there. The big problem Colton always had was his fitness. He’s one of the most natural flowing, gifted riders on the Canadian side. Where as a lot of riders get through with their fitness, Colton could survive on his fluid riding style. Now his fitness is unbelievable. He’s walking around with no shirt and has like minus two percent body fat.

He doesn’t have the shaved head too, does he?
No [laughs], but I can’t emphasis enough how well JSR has been taking a leadership role on that team.

And you guys are also supporting pro women’s racer, Jolene Van Vugt. What’s going on with her?
She was here and did her photo shoot. Her bike looks awesome! We used all of our connections like Hinson, Hann Wheels, Works Connection, and her bike is pretty nice looking. She’s been riding a lot and was down south doing some freestyle. She’s back home in Ontario now.

Cool! Thanks for the update, Dean. We’ll see you in Ste-Julie.
For sure. Thanks, Danny.