Each year we look forward to the release of the latest motocross apparel, and for the 2013 Thor MX launch, local distributor Gas Imports had product specialist Jamie Foreman over from the US.

MotoOnline.com.au tracked Foreman down at the recent Appin round of the Monster Energy MX Nationals to speak about his role and Thor’s gear for next season.

Jamie Foreman was on hand in Australia for Thor's 2013 product release.

You’ve come out to Australia for the 2013 gear launch, so first up, how did the releases go?

Yeah, it was great. It’s my first time to Australia so I was really excited to come over. We have a really unique relationship with our distributor here in Australia, GAS Imports.

With the relationship between Parts Unlimited and Thor in the US and GAS Imports here in Australia, it was important for us to put that extra effort into the Australian market, because it is very important for us, obviously.

Around the world that I have been, Australia is probably the country that most closely mirrors what it is like in the United States. So it has been a really great opportunity, the response has been very positive.

The guys at GAS have done an amazing job as far as venues, the dealer invites and dealer attendance that we had. The gear was very well received and I’m looking forward to an absolutely stellar 2013.

Thor is obviously a popular brand in Australia and worldwide. So growth wise, have you been seeing results in Australia?

We’ve seen growth in Australia and I think this year there is some extra push and some extra effort is going to be put into the Australian market from the guys at GAS.

Also with my new kindled relationship with GAS Imports and Thor in the United States it’s going to be again a great year and I’m looking forward to it.

This 2013 gear, it’s obviously all brand new gear for the new year, so does it have much input from the team riders?

It does, and we were fortunate enough at our dealer presentation to have Ben Townley on hand. It was really good to have him on hand to explain the relationship between out designers, product developers and the pro riders.

They have a lot of feedback and it takes time, it’s not something that if Ben said today, “oh I wish I had a glove” and next week he’s got a glove. It takes time to produce that product and develop it.

But there is a real close synergy between our riders, and that’s really one of the main reasons to have riders on staff. Not only for the marketing aspect, but to prove our products in the field.

I mean, we race what we sell. Pro Circuit has done a great job coining that phrase, but our guys can wear anything off of the shelf and they do. We don’t make anything special for them.

If Ben Townley or Ryan Villopoto needs a set of gear, we can get it out of our warehouse, do our heat transfers with their name, number and sponsor logos so they can wear it the next day. So it’s very good.

Carlton Dry Honda Thor Racing's Ford Dale debuted Thor's 2013 gear at Appin. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

Can you explain to us what your job with Thor entitles?

I am the product specialist and the product manager for Thor in the United States. What I do is dealer liaisons in America, so I’m kind of the conduit between the dealer and consumer, back to our designers and developers.

I kind of let everybody know what is going on. I don’t communicate so much with our international distributors like GAS, because we have people who do that. We have rider managers who handle our riders and work very closely with our product developers.

But really my thing is more from the product side to the consumer and to the dealer, which is our lifeblood obviously. Without the consumer and the dealer, we’re not selling product.

So it’s been very good, I have a lot of knowledge about the Thor product and how to explain that to our dealers and consumers alike.

It’s a very busy and exciting time for you guys, so best of luck with it.

Absolutely, I appreciate it. Thanks for having me.