COLT NICHOLS | GRIT-216 | 450SX

COLT NICHOLS | GRIT-216 | SX 450

Consistently bettering his skillset aboard the 450, Oklahoma's Colt Nichols would continue to flourish while racing for the prestigious Factory Honda team for the duration of this Supercross season. Nichols had overcome multiple injuries throughout the past few years, displaying resiliency that was on display in Atlanta following a remarkable run in practice that warranted immediate transferring to the night show. He would display an excellent clutch release when leaping from the line, charging into the first corner with momentum but would be out maneuvered a bit by riders like Cooper Webb and Ken Roczen as they entered into the first sector of jumps. He would be located in fifth as the first circuit concluded, moving to fourth not long thereafter after passing Benny Bloss. It was then the 751 of Josh Hill who was the next to get around, and though Nichols was urgently searching for a substantial pathway to pass the veteran rider, there wasn't much that could be located. Doing his best to quadruple the step-on/step-off obstacle after the finish-line, Nichols could feel that Adam Cianciarulo (who'd crashed earlier in the moto) would be approaching rather rapidly. Dean Wilson would follow "AC" as they stormed through the last lap of action while weaving through the sand(s) of the infield. And it appeared that Nichols would have fourth place solidified as the checkered flag neared, but an unfortunate mistake allowed the aforementioned Wilson and Cianciarulo around...translating to sixth prior to embarking on the twenty-two minute tenure that followed. Funneling into the first turn for the main event, riders were clashing shrouds and handlebars alike, with little regard for one another as they aspired to accrue the strongest finish possible! Sand would be flying every which way as racers dashed through the infield at the height of third and fourth gear, as Nichols used all of the power he could generate on behalf of his Honda engine. Concluding the first lap in thirteenth, he would move forward to eleventh after only a few circuits; finding himself in a battle with Dean Wilson (again) as they pressed toward the rear wheel of Josh Hill! Colt couldn't seem to get around Wilson, who was using a multitude of insides to safeguard the eighth-place residency, while simultaneously staying in an offensive mindset as the fifteen minute mark had passed. But Nichols wasn't going to give up, as Justin Hill remained behind him and seemed adamant about overtaking Colt, if the opportunity arose. But Nichols embodied a sense of tenacity to the finish-line, eventually claiming ninth when leaping over the final double with style.

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