IIIMY OWN RACE:
was consistent, finishing third in the
first one and second in the next. I was
struggling with the track then, but
when it came to the heat race, every-
thing just clicked together really nicely.
I got a really good start and controlled
the lead. I had that adrenaline going
a er my first heat win. Going into the
main event, I was trying to stay calm.
I nailed my start, and the rest is his-
tory. I just clicked off laps, and it felt
like a video game. I had such a good
flow and was doing everything with
ease, almost; I was relaxed, and it felt
like a prac ce day. I couldn't ask for a
be er day." On Saturday, he took third
despite nursing a sore leg a er crashing
in qualifying.
VOLUME 58 ISSUE 4 JANUARY 26, 2021 P59
64 COLT NICHOLS
2-1 250SX EAST
Colt Nichols played down his win on
Saturday night. "It felt just like another
day at the Yamaha test track out in
California with me and Chris an just
kind of trading laps," Nichols said. "I
got a good start. I've been struggling
with my starts all day, so I'm glad we
turned that around. I really just tried to
be pa ent. I knew where he was a li le
faster, so I tried to pick up on a few
lines. It felt great to finally get a win. It
has been a while so I'm going to soak it
in. It's awesome to have the red plate,
me and Chris an will be sharing it so
that is cool for the team.
the riders have to keep their
wheels on the ground near the
crash site). Roczen—and he wasn't
the only one—jumped a small
double in the vicinity of the injured
Sexton and he, and the others,
were docked four points after the
race. Roczen finished fourth in
the race and was allowed to keep
that position but was stripped four
points, which in a championship
this close so far, could prove det-
rimental come round 17. Roczen
defended himself saying that he
did not see the flag because it was
blocked by another rider ahead
of him and that he would never
have disobeyed the red-cross flag
intentionally. Honda appealed the
penalty, but AMA officials held
firm. Roczen felt that a warning, or
perhaps fine, would've been more
