[2] He spent 20 consecutive seasons at the Hackney Wick Stadium[3] and earned 26 international caps for the England national speedway team.

[4] Although originally preferring Junior Grasstrack, Thomas was first spotted during interval demonstration rides at the home of the West Ham Hammers[5] with friend and rival Dave Jessup, following which, he signed for the Canterbury Crusaders.

Although he never fulfilled his early potential to become one of the world's best riders, mostly notably never reaching a world final, he became a successful British League heat leader thrilling fans around the country with his exciting never say die racing style which saw most of his points scored by overtaking opposing riders after his characteristic poor start .

In 1981, after a couple of poor seasons, he dropped into the National League with the Crayford Kestrels but continued his Hackney career as reserve.

[citation needed] He has since made one or two special appearances; most notably in 2001 he made a special one-off appearance for a Hackney team in a meeting at Rye House Stadium, having never ridden a bike for thirteen years and after a further 10 years won a veteran speedway event at Lydd speedway in 2011.