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NICK SCHMIDT
450 SX / A-1
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / LANNAN DESIGN / WILSON
>> Nick Schmidt has been one of the fastest privateers in the sport
of Supercross for the last few years. He has steadily improved and
is now known as a consistent Main Event finisher. Nick knew that he was ready to continue this reputation when he hit the track on Satur- day morning in Anaheim. “The Milestone Assassin” looked aggressive in practice and would go to the races with confidence. Unfortunately, Nick got off to a poor start in 450 Heat 1 but was able to make his way into 11th place by the end of the first lap. He put down some clean laps and was able to hold on to 11th all the way to the finish.
He went to the Semi with confidence and got off to a much better start. He was sitting inside the top five and was fighting to stay on two wheels as he ran over one of the downed riders in the first corner. Schmidt held on to 5th all the way down to the last lap where he lost the position in a heated battle with Alessi. Forced to go to the LCQ, Schmidt knew he had too lay it all on the line. He got a great jump when the gate dropped and hugged the inside, which enabled him to secure 3rd position by the second corner. Nick knew he wanted more, and was able to hold it on just a bit longer than Jimmy Albertson as they landed off the finish line for lap 2. Nick made a clean block pass in the corner that followed and would hang on to 2nd all the way to the finish. He began his first Main Event of the year with a poor gate pick, which resulted in an equally poor start. Nick was around 15th place by the third corner as the pack of riders raced through. He knew it would be a long race and continued to put down solid laps. Nick rode smooth and his efforts were good enough for 19th place in a very deep field of 450 riders.
114 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 9, 2017