PHIL NICOLETTI

Though competing within his final professional season, Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti continued to display remarkable skills within the 450MX division. His top-tier attributes on the motorcycle were presented once more in Millville, Minnesota, where after a remarkable practicing effort, he shifted into gear for the opening race of the afternoon. A solid start to the first moto would propel Phil into the realm of the top-ten, and after mistakes from other riders, while the New York veteran remained rather steady, he seemed to have been solidified in the eighth-place position when nearing the halfway point, of the race that was set to span well-over thirty minutes. Though Christian Craig (seventh) was a bit out of reach, he and another Husqvarna rider (i.e. Malcolm Stewart) were now battling over the eighth-place position, with less than ten minutes remaining on the clock. Though overtaken by the number twenty-seven, Nicoletti remained consistent within the ninth-place standing...which was sustained through the thirty-minute mark, and eventual checkered flag as well. The ninth place was considered an admirable standing, but Nicoletti yearned for more as gate(s) fell in the following round of racing. All in the field were initially chasing Justin Cooper when rounding the first corner, and with Nicoletti initially running inside of the top-five, he knew his pace must be categorized as “all-out.” He would do his best to remain in single digits, but opponents like Chase Sexton would eventually overtake him. He was eighth, after ten minutes of action — and appeared to be in synchronization with both, bike and track, as racing continued to progress. Rain appeared to be moving in, from the outer boundaries of the Millville facility...but Nicoletti was too focused on the racetrack, to be concerned with any outside variable. He had distinguished his machine ahead of Shane McElrath, and wasn’t too far from the rear wheel of Christian Craig (who occupied seventh). The idea of overtaking the former SX champion was enough to keep Nicoletti motivated, and his determination was sustained through the final laps of competition. As he eventually completed the final corner and crested the checkered flag jump in eighth, the consistency of Nicoletti would once again translate to an admirable finish in the final standings. He was finalized in eighth overall, and continued his run to the SMX playoff’s — seeking to excel through the next round of Washougal, and the events that lead to Charlotte.