Industry Seating with Jason Thomas

Episode 225: Glendale SX
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Jason Thomas delivers a fast-paced, insightful review of the Glendale Supercross (SX) round, skips coverage of Houston, and looks ahead to the upcoming Seattle race. The focus is on key rider performances, especially Hayden Deegan's fourth consecutive win in the 250 class, Ken Roczen's victory in the 450 class, and a fresh Top 10 Power Rankings. Throughout, Jason stays true to his analytical, candid tone, offering behind-the-scenes reflections and observations on both riders' on-track tactics and off-track personalities.

Key Discussion Points

1. 250 Class Standouts

(10:43–26:48)

• Hayden Deegan's Dominance

  • Four wins in a row—Jason praises Deegan's growth and consistency, particularly in starts and whoops.
  • Honest about past critiques and now openly complimentary:

    "I very much believe in when you are doing the right things, you should be rewarded for it..." (12:13)

  • Recognizes differences in personality; Jason’s reserved stance vs. Deegan's showmanship (shooting bows, finger guns) but refuses to judge:

    "Doesn’t mean it’s wrong... it’s just a difference in personality. And it shouldn’t come down as I’m condemning that behavior because I’m certainly not." (14:53)

• Levi Kitchen's Resurgence

  • Best ride seen from Kitchen in a long time—possibly since 2024 Seattle.

    “This was a turn in his riding, like performance. Doesn’t mean he won. His start’s still awful and Deegs was long gone...” (16:47)

  • Social media debates about whether Kitchen could have caught Deegan with a better start; Jason believes Deegan “had more in the tank.”

• Cameron McAdoo's Grit

  • Commends McAdoo for “scrapping it out,” holding podiums without top pace.

    "If you don’t have your best stuff in a season and you’re still finding ways to grid out podiums, then good on you." (21:53)

• Ryder DeFrancisco & Michael Mosman

  • DeFrancisco: Fast all day, but mistakes cost him a podium shot.
  • Mosman: Lacking "Anaheim 2" magic, but wisely settled for decent results rather than risking a crash.

• Max Anstie’s Struggles

  • “It is just not working... since San Diego, last time I really saw him able to go at the front.” (25:52)
  • Suggests soft Seattle track could bring Anstie back into contention.

2. Power Rankings & 450 Class Assessment

(27:30–55:50)

Honorable Mentions

• RJ Hampshire: Results and health issues; “deserves to sit out a week.”
• Aaron Plessinger: Almost made the Top 10, but "rough January" keeps him just outside.

Top 10 Power Rankings

1. Hunter Lawrence (Red Plate Holder)
   • Consistency, good starts, and rider-to-broadcaster relationship growth.
   • Jason reflects on giving advice about enjoying success:

     "You've got to be able to smile when things go your way. Otherwise, what are you doing it all for?" (54:02)

2. Eli Tomac
   • Arguably still the fastest, but crashes and poor starts hurt performance.
   • Heat race start praised as “picture perfect.”

     “That heat race start was just—it was beautiful to watch, truly.” (52:12)

3. Cooper Webb
   • Silver linings: podiums even on “worst racetrack.” Points lead narrows from 17 to 15.
   • Cites Chad Reed: take confidence-building lessons, discard the rest.
4. Ken Roczen
   • Wins Glendale by excelling early; “best I’ve ever seen” at initial race sprinting.
   • Memorable moment:

     “This win was telegraphed. If you go all the way back to A1, you could see how close he was…” (45:07)

   • Describes Roczen as genuinely friendly off-track.
5. Chase Sexton
   • Underperforming relative to potential—"too good to be back there" (seventh).

     “This is a former champion... too good to be getting a reasonable start and ending up seventh. It's not it.” (42:09)

6. Justin Cooper
   • Signs of “life” and recovery; finally gets a good start and strong finish.
7. Jorge Prado
   • 2026 “story of the year.” Vast improvement after moving back to KTM:

     “He is proving everybody wrong. And listen, I'm wrong a lot and I was probably wowed wrong, which is even worse.” (37:41)

8. Joey Savatgy
   • Privateer outpacing factory riders; dealing with an injured toe.
9. Jason Anderson
   • Consistency concerns: tends to fade second half of seasons.
10. Dylan Ferrandis
    • Quiet but steady on a brand-new team and bike—solid given lack of accumulated data.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Deegan's racecraft:

  "He was managing his lead. He wasn’t going to do anything stupid. He wasn’t going to throw away the win just because he wanted to maintain the size of the lead. His racecraft is too good for that.” (17:50)

• On supercross vs. academic intelligence:

  "Their racecraft, the way they can manage racing situations, is elite, it is top tier... Some of the smartest people alive... would have no idea how to ride a motorcycle..." (18:50)

• On the challenge of being analytical:

  "When you're wrong, you got to admit it. And he is doing the thing. Man, he looks incredible." (38:50) [on Jorge Prado]

• On learning to enjoy success:

  “When you do something right, at least enjoy it, even if it’s for five minutes... there’s no reason to be doing this if it’s all for not.” (54:16)
  (Advice originally given to Jason, now forwarded to Hunter Lawrence)

• On podcast commitments:

  "I'm getting it done earlier in the week than I promised, but I also missed one. So here we are." (00:45)

Important Timestamps

• 00:44 — Jason's intro, sponsor shout-outs, episode setup
• 10:43 — Transition to 250 class discussion
• 12:13 — Praise for Hayden Deegan; commentary on broadcasting and analyst integrity
• 16:47 — Levi Kitchen’s ride dissected
• 17:50 — Deegan's evolving race management skills
• 21:53 — Cameron McAdoo's podium resilience
• 25:52 — Max Anstie’s ongoing struggles
• 27:30 — Power Rankings: Honorable Mentions
• 29:57 — Dylan Ferrandis at #10; adapting to new machinery
• 31:32 — Jason Anderson's pattern of late-season decline
• 33:10 — Joey Savatgy’s overachieving performances
• 37:41 — Jorge Prado’s redemption on KTM
• 40:21 — Justin Cooper’s return to form
• 42:09 — Chase Sexton’s inconsistencies
• 45:07 — Ken Roczen’s win breakdown
• 47:51 — Cooper Webb: mindset and managing the points lead
• 52:12 — Eli Tomac’s starts dissected
• 53:40 — Hunter Lawrence’s rise and personal rapport
• 54:02 — Philosophical reflection on enjoying racing success

Conclusion

Jason Thomas delivers a concise yet thorough look at the standout performances from Glendale SX and updated power rankings, blending on-track analysis with personality insights and pro-level candor. Listeners hear what elevates stars like Deegan, Roczen, and Lawrence—and the strategic and mental battles that shape championships. Looking forward, Jason briefly notes that Seattle’s weather and track could factor heavily in the next round's results.