PHIL NICOLETTI -GRIT 228 450MX

PHIL NICOLETTI | GRIT-228 | 450MX

A veteran of the series, Yamaha's Phil Nicoletti would return to the racetrack in Washougal, Washington, believing that he could generate a top-ten overall as final scores were set to be accumulated. The competition of the 450cc MX division had risen in recent weeks, and the starting grid for round eight of the championship was undoubtedly top-tier. And as many hypothesized, Phil would elevate his game to the ascending pace of the first few laps, where he managed to gather a standing of eleventh prior to embarking on circuit number two. It was a matter of justifying speeds throughout the shaded areas of the track that were both, safe and a process of constantly moving forward. Nicoletti could display both sides of that dilemma if necessary, and would exhibit a veteran-like repertoire of skills as he powered past the mechanic's area with brute authority throughout the first fourteen minutes of action. He and Colt Nichols were on a similar trajectory for much of the moto, especially as both athletes were able to work their way around Jed Beaton. Nicoletti's teammate (Garrett Marchbanks) was just ahead of the tandem, but Nicoletti knew that his fellow ClubMX rider was going to be difficult to overtake as they neared the end of the moto. Ultimately, Marchbanks was able to evade both Nichols and Nicoletti as the conclusion of this sixteen-lap contest would arise; leaving Phil in eleventh as the checkered flag was thrown, just behind the machine who sported the number forty-five. Beginning the second-moto in eighth, Nicoletti would find a formidable flow inside the top-ten, hanging with the latter portion(s) of the top-five for as long as possible while scrubbing his way into the wooded area just before the finish-line. The New York native was precise when rolling his chassis into multiple inside(s), taking the shortest routes while avoiding the problematic pot-holes that were beginning to arise amongst the exit(s) of countless corners. This would proceed Nicoletti's stance within the ninth-place residency, where Ty Masterpool was just ahead, along with Colt Nichols trialing his rear wheel. The ClubMX Yamaha rider wasn't going to fold under pressure though, and proceeded to display some extraordinary laps for the final eight-minutes of action; which was enough to solidify his machine into ninth as action ceased..for ninth overall on the day!

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