Page 124 - GRRIT-11

PHIL NICOLETTI
Phil Nicoletti hasn’t had the Supercross season that he was expecting to have in 2016. He serves a very unique role for the JGR Yamaha team as a fill in rider. At the beginning of the season, he was called into action much earlier than anticipated. As a result of the Peick vs. Friese aftermath, Nicoletti’s services were needed at the very second round of the season in
San Diego. Supposedly, “Filthy” Phil was kicking back and watching Anaheim 1, drinking a beer, when he witnessed the meltdown from his teammate that resulted in a $5,000 fine and a 1 race suspension. He immediately tossed the half finished beer aside into the trash, because he knew that he would be racing come next weekend. JGR’s misfortune continued when they found out their number 1 rider, Justin Barcia, would require surgery on his thumb after suffering a preseason digger on his mountain bike. This gave “Fill In” Phil the opportunity to race until Barcia is healthy enough to come back racing. Amazingly, Phil has managed to stay race fit in a tumultuous season where he has crashed in every main event he’s raced but one. Toronto was even worse for the New York native, he barely made it one lap on the night until he was caught out by the triple-triple in the first rhythm section. He OJ’d the first landing, sending him over the bars and causing him to bail off the bike. Consequently, he tweaked a nagging knee injury that kept him out of the rest of the night show. Barcia is due back at the 12th round in Santa Clara, can Phil redeem himself and put in a solid main event finish before going back to the JGR rig to watch the racing with a beer and a weinerschnitzel?
124 GRITMOTO • MARCH.21.16
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