Page 34 - Issue_68

COLT NICHOLS
250 SX / 6TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> With any athletic endeavor, consistency is an ultra important component in every aspect. Contract renewal, scholarship contention, and championship standing. If one isn’t consistent, they can’t expect the results to deliver of what they truly deserve. Rarely, if ever, is consistency off
the table; even in a one main event format, if you aren’t able to piece together twenty or so laps,
the idea of ever winning is off of the table. And when zeroing in on these select few Triple Crown races, the idea is enhanced by the thousands, as more laps means more opportunity for error. Colt Nichols isn’t one to ever fold, as he’s amassed countless titles in his amateur days, based off the notion of always being a contender. Even in practice, his fastest laps weren’t a one off deal; they were reiterated, with numerous blistering times, showing that a hot take wasn’t necessarily a uke. For main event one, he knew this would be a game of the long ball, and one hiccup hear or there, didn’t have to be the end all be all of his night. And although he had bobbled at rst, he began to regain that veteran composure, pushing forward through red Georgia clay. As his tire tread dug in, he was creating his own signature so to speak, putting the lines together awlessly. Flowing with the bike in the rhythm lane before the nish line, he would seat hop the double out of the inside, just in front of Jeremy Martin. Hearing his rev limiter through the shell of his helmet, there was no need to turn around, as his presence had been felt. He wouldn’t waver, and he rounded the right-hander, just prior to the triple, he could see him coming again, in the lane just behind. He had the position locked up, and would go on to nish fth. With main event two here, they were off to the races, the ames replicating the gunshot of start signaling; his start was horrendous, and trouble would soon encounter. Dancing along the inside of the whoop section, he wanted to nd a line of steep, steady plateau’s; rather than trying to nagle through the ravine in the middle. It would work, slowly gaining on the pack ahead, and pushing Michael Mosiman to the wayside, after laps of moving forward. With the white ag coming out, he knew if he could one for one more lap, a his nishing spot would be secure; and he would do so, bringing home the eleventh place ride. Now it was time for the longest moto of the night, and although the elements of heat, humidity, etc. weren’t coming into
play like the outdoors, the technicality of this racetrack was surely able to increase the heart rate. With carnage going on all around, especially before the triple on the opening lap, it was imminent for him to get out and going quickly. The rst turn was ultra slick, and you could see him easing into the throttle, with his boot hovering just over the ground. The top ve was still condensed, with about ve minutes to go; he knew it was time to strike and push forward. He would do so, leaving riders like Austin Forkner in the rearview; charging hard, every point would count. And although second placed seemed sweet, rst was literally at his ngertips, in the dwindling moments. However, he would come home to bring second place, garnering sixth overall for the evening.
34 GRITMOTO • MARCH 4, 2018