Industry Seating, Ep 214: Budds Creek MX (August 24, 2025)

Host: Jason Thomas
Podcast: Industry Seating

Episode Overview

Jason Thomas offers a comprehensive behind-the-scenes analysis of the Budds Creek National, touching on race-day conditions, the evolving playoff system, standout rider performances, and the drama both on and off the track. The episode strikes a candid, insider tone, blending personal anecdotes, technical insights, and a balanced look at the shifting landscape of professional motocross.

Main Themes and Insights

1. Unusual Budds Creek Weather & Atmosphere

• Lowest humidity ever at Budds Creek: Thanks to Hurricane Erin sucking out moisture from the mid-Atlantic, the race featured unexpectedly pleasant weather.
• Jason notes the contrast with the typically brutal conditions and how it was a running topic among riders and staff.
• "Everybody was just like, man, this is unbelievable. Like, how is it so nice outside?" — [07:32]

[00:00-07:50]

• Jason reflects on the behind-the-scenes chaos of live televised broadcasting from the event, emphasizing adaptability and mentorship in handling on-air mishaps.

2. Racing Dynamics with Playoff System

• The looming playoffs this time of year have changed priorities for riders.

• Some are focused on simply staying healthy for the lucrative postseason rather than pushing for glory at this late summer round.

• "Now with the playoffs, the goal posts have kind of been moved to what they're thinking about... There's a lot of money to be made at these three playoff rounds." — [10:08]

• Jason addresses criticism of the playoff format being "gimmicky", especially from Steve Mathis:
  "What more could you possibly be asking for than what we're getting, is what I would say. And don't let yourself get in the way... of what has been fantastic." — [12:30]

3. 250 Class Highlights

[23:10-34:50]

Hayden Deegan's Title and Podium Drama

• Deegan clinched the 250 championship as expected, despite receiving a post-moto penalty.
• Deegan "didn’t lay up," going 1-1 on track before his penalty.
  • "He went out and on the track went one, one. Now we know we got a penalty. He went from first to second. All those things are true." — [23:36]
• Jason chides both Honda and Star teams for podium smack talk, calling it "out of place":
  • "I really don't like disrespect, especially when it's not warranted and that in the right setting or what, you know... I just didn't think it was really the best way to kind of handle this." — [25:17]

Season Reflection: Deegan vs. Shimoda

• The championship was a season-long duel: "Hayden was great, Joe was great, Deegan was just a little bit greater. That's it." — [26:10]
• Kitchen’s return to podium form after a rough patch is a personal highlight for Jason.

KTM & Tom Vial Struggles

• Ongoing technical issues cited with Tom Vial's KTM shock leading to his second-moto DNS.
  • "There's something apparently with the shock that they can't keep it from fading a bit... the performance starts to fall off." — [30:16]

4. 450 Class Power Rankings: Analysis & Drama

[34:50-1:08:00]

#10: Jorge Prado — A Team Meltdown

• Prado's 43rd qualifying position: Jason alleges lack of effort and orchestrated discontentment with Kawasaki.
  • "I think he’s trying to find a way out of that team... There is a part of that to this." — [36:38]
  • "It is pandemonium and absolute and utter chaos underneath the surface." — [39:12]
• Predicts Prado's imminent departure, possibly to KTM for the Motocross of Nations.

#9: Valentin Guillod

• Praised for effort and underdog mentality while riding mostly stock equipment and working on a tight budget.

#8: Dylan Ferrandis

• Acknowledges Ferrandis’s strong rides after late season return; anticipates his move to Ducati.

#7: Justin Barcia

• Notes a quieter series for Barcia as he nears the career twilight, with curiosity about what the Ducati move will mean for his competitiveness.

#6: Malcolm Stewart

• Highlighted for clutch riding to secure third in seeding, and for remaining a genuinely good person within the paddock.

#5: RJ Hampshire

• Jason expresses surprise at RJ’s leap forward in performance despite preseason skepticism and a “jacked up wrist.”

#4: Justin Cooper

• Cooper’s resurgence after a midseason slump traced to a Spring Creek crash is praised; Jason expects him to be a playoff factor but not necessarily the champion.

#3: Eli Tomac

• Acknowledges Tomac’s form is “fine but not peak,” with questions about what to expect as the playoffs commence.

#2: Hunter Lawrence

• Admits to repeatedly underestimating Hunter, now sees him as “an elite 450 guy, period.”
  • "I have to just own it and shut up, really, when it comes to that. Because he’s proven himself." — [1:01:08]
• Shares a personal story about bonding over drinks with the Lawrence family, giving him fresh respect.

#1: Jett Lawrence

• Reiterates Jet as the sport’s current standard-bearer despite being bested by Hunter in the final moto.
  • "He is the best racer on the planet, and I don’t see that changing... That kid has it and more. He is special plus." — [1:05:14]
• Shares a behind-the-scenes story: Johnny O’Mara and others in awe of Jet’s display of speed during a Budds Creek hot lap.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If the audience doesn’t necessarily know that you’re off script and it almost doesn’t matter. You just have to keep going and make the most of whatever’s happening in the moment." — [05:40], on live TV chaos
• "Some people are like, 'I just want to stay healthy this last round.'" — [10:16], on playoff strategy
• "One Moto, he’s still won the overall. One Moto doesn’t change anything. But that kid—he’s simply special." — [1:05:00], on Jet Lawrence
• "It is pandemonium and utter chaos underneath the surface... It’s like the duck; you see a duck kind of floating, and underneath it’s just paddling, paddling. Crazy." — [39:12], on Prado/Kawasaki

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–07:50 — Event wrap-up, live TV broadcasting challenges, Budds Creek’s weather impact
• 08:00–14:00 — Playoffs and their effect on championship dynamics; changing priorities
• 15:00–22:00 — Sponsor acknowledgements, rider mentality around playoff seeding
• 23:10–34:50 — 250 class results: Deegan’s title, podium drama, team friction, KTM technical issues
• 34:50–1:08:00 — 450 class power rankings, deep dives on rider form, team turmoil, and future projections (Prado, Lawrence brothers, Tomac, Stewart, etc.)

Tone & Style

Jason maintains a reflective, unfiltered, and expert tone throughout, blending technical breakdowns with industry gossip, personal experience, and a dose of tough love for both riders and pundits.

Conclusion

This episode delivers an insider's perspective on Budds Creek — both the racing and the evolving professional motocross landscape. Jason Thomas provides listeners with enough technical insight, locker-room stories, and personality-driven narrative to satisfy hardcore fans and casual followers alike, while teeing up heightened anticipation for the playoffs.