PHIL NICOLETTI

Though seeking to conclude his professional racing tenure, Phil Nicoletti aspired to make an impact in the state of Maryland. The ClubMX athlete had ridden this course for numerous years, and knew the tendencies of how the soil would break down, along with, where the quickest lines would emerge following the rather muddy practice sessions. Once onto the grid for the first moto of the afternoon, Nicoletti would combat the roost of the opposing racers and emerged in a prominent position of fifth. He was nearly contending for the pinnacle standing at one point, but even with being passed, adjusted his pace rather admirably among the top racers in the division. For the laps that followed, Nicoletti’s talent was evident. He still remained at the top of the game per se, and would maintain a residency in the top-five before being overtaken by Eli Tomac and Jason Anderson. He followed the fellow established racers of the division and used their pace as a means of staying within the highest tier of the field. Though at that point, opponents like Malcolm Stewart, Christian Craig, and Broc Tickle were near. Nicoletti was far from quitting though and wanted to flourish while racing in front of thousands of fans. He and Tickle seemed to be on a similar trajectory when passing the halfway point, and three-quarter mark not long thereafter. All the while, he was sprinting past the mechanic’s area and noticing cues from his mechanic...seeking a bit of motivation and information (of where his opponent stood) en route to the finish line. Through his final three passes of the rollers that proceeded the aforementioned jump, Nicoletti was superb and made a lasting impression on the crowd that was around...excelling with one-hundred percent effort to capture an eighth-place accolade. For the following round, Phil garnered an opening-lap residency of ninth before losing a few positions. But he wouldn’t let the riders who passed him act as a means for discouragement — and instead, pressed forward over the crusted canvas at the height of third and fourth gear. He remained balanced through the deep trenches, staying atop the foot-pegs with minimal mistakes while showcasing a similar output of velocity to that of Eli Tomac and Broc Tickle. Though Eli was able to move around him as the checkered flag became closer, it was Nicoletti’s consistency through the final circuits, that led to not only a twelfth-place finish being earned — but a ninth overall result as well.