PHIL NICOLETTI - GRIT 256 450SX

GRIT-256 | 450 SX

July 2nd, 2024 2:00 pm

The skillset of Yamaha's Phil Nicoletti certainly hadn't diminished as he moved closer and closer to retirement, where the New York native that his would be his last, full-year of professional competition. Nevertheless, he wanted to make an impact on a circuit he'd ridden numerous times before...proving that his capabilities in the sand were top-tier. For practice, Nicoletti would garner a position inside the top-twenty before making his way into the opening moto of the afternoon. Once there, his start was exceptional...where he battled at the pinnacle of the leaderboard, among race leaders, to earn a fifth-place standing as the green flag waved! His speed was incredible, and though there were a myriad of factory contenders at his rear wheel, the athlete aboard the number thirty-six machine certainly put his best foot forward in regard to keeping them at bay. As time progressed, however, Nicoletti would be passed by Garrett Marchbanks, Justin Cooper, and Justin Barcia. Though Nicoletti stopped the line of opponents when adversaries like Harri Kullas were near, keeping the rider from Estonia at bay, even as Malcolm Stewart and Dylan Ferrandis would surpass him too. The effort for Nicoletti was admirable, and he made sure to put forth his best effort when surrounded by factory stars...to earn ninth in the running order. For the second moto, Nicoletti's starting position (of eighth) was enough to put him alongside the greats of the division, and acclimate his pace instantly. He was launching from a multitude of singles with fierce output, and kept Christian Craig at bay until the halfway point! He and the Husqvarna rider were nearly paralleled in speed, with Phil never allowing Craig to work his way forward, by a significant margin. This, in return, would also keep the New York native ahead of Harri Kullas and Justin Barcia...who were charging hard when the two-lap board neared. Though Nicoletti's veteran mentality was enough to garner confidence and self-belief in to the latter moments of the moto, where he generated incredible fortitude when the track was at its roughest. And in the end, it was Nicoletti's final position (of ninth) that when paired with the first moto, generated an eighth-place overall finish. The bounce back from his crash a few weeks ago, once again proved the tenacity of the New Yorker - and his attrition is destined to be sustained through the final round of the 2024 championship.

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