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COLT NICHOLS
250 MX / 6TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / TILLS
>> Colt Nichols began this 2017 outdoor season as one of the most consistent riders in the 250 class. That came as a surprise because just a season ago he had been one of the most inconsistent riders. But this year he has been logging solid starts and riding strong, smooth motos. However, he has begun to struggle a bit failing to finish inside the top ten in the last three motos despite doing so in the first five. He was determined to turn it back around here at Muddy Creek.
Nichols got through the slick and muddy qualifying practice sessions by setting down the eleventh quickest lap time. He appeared to be ready to have a great day of racing and get his season back on track.
He did not get the best of starts in the opening moto but he managed to round the opening lap in ninth. He was still in good position to have a solid moto and he would do just that. He logged solid, smooth laps for the entire moto. He stayed glued to rookie Sean Cantrell from wire to wire but would be unable to make a move. Nich- ols was able to secure eighth place mid moto when RJ Hampshire would suffer a mechanical and exit the race. He’d take that eighth and finish right behind Cantrell. Not the flashiest moto but he was glad to get back in the top ten.
Nichols got a better start in the second moto emerging from the opening lap in seventh place. He hopped into sixth the following lap but would begin to endure pressure from 2x champion Jeremy Martin. He held his own for several laps but Martin would eventually work by and push him back to seventh. Then just as he settled in there, another race winner, Joey Savatgy, came knocking on his door. Nichols would hold him off until the halfway point when Savatgy would ultimately make the pass and send him back to eighth. From there Nichols would keep it steady and bring home another eighth to go 8-8 on the day. The finishes would be enough to secure him sixth overall. It was a rather quiet pair of performances from the Oklahoman but he did return to the top ten. Watch for him to inch closer back to the top five next weekend at Red Bud.
44 GRITMOTO • JUNE 25, 2017
