Industry Seating EP 220: Australia and Sweden WSX – Podcast Summary

Host: Jason Thomas
Date: December 7, 2025

Overview

This episode dives deep into recent World Supercross Championship (WSX) events in Australia and Sweden, with host Jason Thomas offering insight, critical analysis, and behind-the-scenes stories. He breaks down the track conditions, rider performances, series economics, and looks ahead to upcoming media days as the U.S. Supercross season approaches.

Main Theme

Jason Thomas provides a candid look at the WSX rounds in Australia and Sweden, dissecting the impact of track conditions, rider decisions, event organization, and what these international events reveal about riders and the state of off-season supercross. He closes with an outlook on media days and how these interactions shape narratives for the coming season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Racing Off-Season & Anticipation (00:44–07:53)

• Off-season lull: Jason sympathizes with fans and insiders feeling the void left by the lack of races post-Motocross des Nations in October.
• Ramp-up to Anaheim 1: The podcast marks a transition toward the start of the season, including off-season meetings, contract negotiations, and media days that get the sport back in rhythm.
• Quote:

  "Everybody needs a break. And if you were at Motocross des Nations, you could just kind of see it... Everybody was just like, man, I love what we do here, but I need a minute off here." (04:25)

WSX Australia – Analysis (07:53–31:19)

Track & Dirt Conditions (08:47–12:24)

• Big jumps, challenging dirt:
  The Australia round featured a massive floor and jumps, but the “really hard pack” track and lack of moisture created “super sketchy whoops” and mistakes.
• Fan versus racer perspective:
  While fans praised the racing, Jason contends that for the athletes, such surfaces are more perilous than fun.
  • Quote:

    "Really low traction and a track that was really prone to mistakes... not something that riders are going to be really thrilled about." (09:53)

Broader Reflection: Considering Other Opinions (12:24–17:34)

• Echo chambers and social media:
  Jason reflects on seeking differing viewpoints, even those he disagrees with, to stay grounded and informed.
  • Quote:

    "I think it is important to not live in an echo chamber. You don't want to constantly be surrounded by people who think and feel exactly the same way you do." (13:24)

• Application to racing:
  He tries to understand fans' arguments for slippery tracks but, as a former racer, can’t support them.

Rider Breakdowns

• Ken Roczen (17:34–18:53)

  • Won Australia due to his skill in slick conditions (great throttle control and whoop blitzing).
  • Quote:

    "He can find traction where other guys can't. Like, he's just very good in that type of condition." (17:52)

• Eli Tomac (18:54–22:10)

  • Struggled, highlighting anticipated challenges in adapting to new setups, teams, and conditions.
  • Explains Tomac’s narrow “window” of bike setup for peak performance.
  • Quote:

    "Eli is that sensitive to the bike... If he's in the window, he's his best self... If it's not, he's not his best self and has a difficult time." (22:10)

  • Predicts inconsistency is inevitable as Tomac adapts to the KTM.

• Hayden Deegan (22:10–28:01)

  • Looked improved but still rode the 450 like a 250 and made rookie mistakes.
  • Off-track altercation with Joey Savatgy flagged as classic young-rider behavior.
  • Deegan is set to focus on 250 for A1 but a 450 appearance on the East Coast isn't ruled out.
  • Quote:

    "He still made the prototypical Deegan Supercross mistakes...But some of the things... he's got a lot of growing up to do still." (25:33)

• Christian Craig (28:01–31:19)

  • “Fantastic in Australia” – best performance in four years.
  • Track conditions perfectly suited his strengths.
  • Feels motivated by how he was treated by previous teams.
  • Quote:

    "If you were going to custom build a race for Christian Craig, it would look a lot like Australia." (29:00)

• Cooper Webb (31:19–34:11)

  • Typical “racecraft guy”—doesn’t dominate on speed alone but capitalizes on opportunities.
  • Some start inconsistencies noted, possibly due to local factors.
  • Webb’s in a much better position physically and mentally compared to last season.

WSX Sweden – Analysis (34:11–40:35)

• Lineup Disappointment:
  Sweden failed to attract top-tier talent (no Roczen, Tomac, Webb, or Deegan), resulting in a more “B-tier” European event.
  • Quote:

    "This just... felt like more of a lesser tier off season European race... You can slap FIM WSX World Championship on it... But this is what that felt like." (34:57)

• Race Recap:
  Jason Anderson and Joey Savatgy battled back and forth with Christian Craig on the podium but less impactful.
• Conditions:
  The track was brutal—heavy ruts, changing lines, and unforgiving surfaces. Thomas relates back to his own racing days in Scandinavia.
• Ken Roczen’s absence:
  Roczen skipped Sweden and future rounds due to funding, not because of any dispute or lack of will.
  • Quote:

    "In the end, the reason that Rockstone is not doing the last two rounds is that there wasn't enough money to get him to the last two rounds." (36:52)

• Racing the Track vs. Racing the Riders:
  Unique to these European rounds, results are dictated as much by riders managing conditions as by direct competitive strategies.

Insider Insights and Anecdotes (38:59–40:35)

• Relatable racecraft:
  Jason compares Sweden's conditions to past races he’s contested (“I could put myself right back into there”). These off-season races require adaptability as every lap is different.
• Race management:
  Success is less about battling other riders and more about executing each lap cleanly, adapting to ruts, and minimizing mistakes.

Product Spotlight: Unmatched Supplements’ “Intra” (40:36–42:30)

• New supplement for racers:
  “Entra” focuses on recovery, specifically engineered for high-performing athletes.
  • Quote:

    "Entra...will help you recover in between races but...the quicker you get back to like a zero, you know, like stat the status quo, the more you can do the next day." (41:00)

• Motocross application:
  Tailored for quick recovery during intense training or multi-day events.

Looking Ahead: Media Days (42:30–End)

• Anticipation:
  Media days bring together all major riders and media, giving insiders a chance to observe and question athletes in a candid setting.
• Insight through observation:
  Thomas values not just what the riders say, but their body language—do they have answers or just rehearsed sound bites?
  • Quote:

    "It's not always in what they say, it's how they say it. It's their body language... Do they have an answer or are they searching and kind of giving you cliches and nothingness?" (44:13)

Memorable Quotes

• On off-season rest:

  "Everybody needs a break. It doesn't matter what your job entails. It doesn't matter what role you may play in this... Everybody needs a break." (04:25)

• On the fan/athlete divide:

  "Great racing is in the eye of the beholder... What I struggle with is that the ranting about how this is what our racing should be... As a racer, your mind's always a racer." (09:53)

• On Roczen not racing Sweden:

  "In the end, the reason that Rockstone is not doing the last two rounds is that there wasn't enough money to get him to the last two rounds." (36:52)

• On reading body language at media days:

  "It's not always in what they say, it's how they say it... Is it targeted answers that they've already had to work through and they know right off the top of their head? To me, those are the things that I care about." (44:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:44 – Jason’s off-season reflections, pre-season excitement
• 07:53 – Introduction to WSX Australia analysis and track talk
• 17:34 – Ken Roczen’s performance
• 18:54 – Eli Tomac’s challenges adapting to new equipment
• 22:10 – Hayden Deegan’s progression and future prospects
• 28:01 – Christian Craig’s Australia performance
• 31:19 – Cooper Webb’s approach and expectations
• 34:11 – Transition to WSX Sweden analysis
• 36:52 – Why Roczen (and other stars) skipped Sweden
• 38:59 – Racing the track vs. the riders; lessons from European SX
• 40:36 – Unmatched Supplements “Entra” product breakdown
• 42:30 – Preview of Supercross media days

Conclusion

EP 220 of Industry Seating delivers a forthright, nuanced appraisal of the recent WSX international rounds, calling attention to the subtleties of track conditions, the human element in high-level racing, and the realities behind rider appearance (or absence). Jason’s blend of first-hand experience, thoughtful skepticism, and passion for the sport makes this an engaging listen and a valuable prep for anyone gearing up for the 2026 Supercross season.