Retirement for Thomas.
Dean Thomas has finally decided to hang up his leathers and move into team management, following a ten year race career in the UK. Along with his business partner, Thomas has decided to run a two man British Supersport team in 2008. The team will be called Mission Racing and he is fielding Nick Medd and Sam Warren.
“I’ll be running my own race team next year and today at Brands Hatch will be the last of it for me in British Superbikes. It is going to be a new era for me next year and a new challenge, plus lots more things to do but it is something I’m looking forward to,” he explained.
He did admit that it may be a bit early for him to be finishing his career but it is the right thing to do for the team. “I think it is a touch early for me to be hanging up my leathers but on the flip side there is an opportunity there for me to run my own team, Mission Racing and to get it moving. Nik Elwood my business partner is involved with it, and it is the right time for him as well,” he said.
“I‘ve either got to run the team myself or put somebody else in there to run it,” he explained, “If I was to do that then in one or two years time I’d need to disrupt and restructure it to accommodate me which is a bit pointless, so it is better for me, the team and the riders to get in now, plan it all, lay it all out and structure it the way it needs to be. Hopefully we can be contenders.”
He finished off by saying his thanks to all his fans, “I really appreciate all the help that everybody has given me over the last ten years since I’ve been in the UK and all the support really. Thanks to all the fans and everybody following it. For me it has been a good career and I cherish the fact that people have helped me get where I am. Hopefully next year they will support me with the team and keep on with it,” he concluded.
October 17th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
really sad to see you retire dean,me and the wife are big fans of yours and always try to get to speak to you at the meets we manage to get to.
spoke to you and brucey at brands on sunday morn in the pit walk and wished you the best, only wish you managed to get better results.
was good to see you and sean dicing in race 2 though,godd racing between team mates.
you have our support for next year although not 100% cos you running those funny yams (im a kwak man) haha.
we will always try and catch you for a natter at the races so all the best for next year with your new role.
dave and tanya.
October 28th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
We’ve had so much pleasure chatting and watching you race since we met at Cadwell in your first year in UK, and for that we feel privileged.
Naturally, we’ll miss not seeing you racingand hope the new role will be very rewarding. We wish you all the best for the coming seasons.