Page 58 - Issue_67

COLT NICHOLS
250 SX / 9TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Colt Nichols wasn’t even sure if he’d be competing at the opening round of the 250SX East division last weekend in Arlington due to an off-season crash, but the Oklahoma native proved his determination and gutted out a second place nish. Although he rode well in the main event, his qualifying performance wasn’t the best at the opening 250SX East round and things didn’t change much for round two at Raymond James Stadium. Nichols nished outside of the top ten after
both timed sessions came to a close, earning the twelfth fastest time behind fellow Yamaha rider, Brandon Hartranft. In the opening 250SX East heat race, Nichols continued to prove that qualify- ing isn’t everything. The Star Racing Yamaha rider blasted out of the middle of the gate and took the early advantage, utilizing a sweeping line in the rst corner in order to complete the opening rhythm section. Nichols was engulfed in a heated battle with the defending 250SX East Champion, Zach Osborne, throughout the early stages of the race as the two traded places back and forth. He was able to give the Husqvarna rider a run through the treacherous sand section before the nish line, but he eventually had to settle for second. Meanwhile, Nichols was separating himself from the riders behind him as he built a comfortable gap ahead of third place, riding well within his comfort zone as he cruised to a second place nish. His best lap was only two tenths shy of the fastest pace that Osborne set throughout the race, providing him with some well deserved con - dence heading into the main event. The gate pick that Nichols earned by nishing second place
in his heat race should have propelled him to the front of the pack at the start of the main event, but the Yamaha rider struggled out of the gate, pushing him outside of the top ten in the early stages of the race. He crossed the nish line in thirteenth position on the opening lap and began to push forward in an attempt to salvage some valuable championship points. It wasn’t long until the Oklahoma native commandeered twelfth position from Sean Cantrell, making the move on the very second lap. One lap later, the Star Racing Yamaha rider continued to move in the right direc- tion as he got the best of Anthony Rodriguez, putting him right on the edge of the top ten. Nich- ols was quickly making moves and in an attempt to line up his next pass on JGR Suzuki’s Kyle Peters, but he made a mistake and fell back to eighteenth position. At that point, he was forced to reassess his race strategy and regroup, remounting a charge behind the Honda of Jacob William- son. By lap seven, Nichols had battled his way back to fourteenth position, but time was running out. He battled tooth and nail until the checkered ag and was able to regain ve more positions, eventually crossing the line in ninth place. Although it’s not the nish that he was hoping for after a podium last weekend in Arlington, he still holds onto fourth place in the championship heading to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
58 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 25, 2018