CHAMPIONSHIP
VOL. 53 ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 17, 2016 P51
However, Nicoletti is doing his
job; he's making sure there are
two JGR Yamahas in the 450cc
main events. He hasn't missed a
single main event yet.
"I think this is my fifth round
tonight," Nicoletti said. "I'm
possibly in for another four or
five. So yeah, it's a unique deal.
Obviously it's worked out really
well for JGR in the past to have
me here and make it in the main
events. I think we'll see other
teams eventually start doing it
[hiring full-time fill-in racers]. So
we'll see. But I like the gig. The
guys treat me awesome. I just
want to get better results for
them, because they deserve it,
I deserve it and we're definitely
capable."
At the end of the day, though,
Nicoletti gets to make money rid-
ing and racing dirt bikes, so life
isn't so bad.
"Yeah, I mean obviously it is a
dream job," Nicoletti said. "But
just like anything else, you want
to do good at your job. Especial-
ly when you put in the amount of
hours; riding, training, suspen-
sion guys, engine guys. I feel,
my pride, I feel gutted but I feel
more gutted for them because
they deserve a good enough
finish as well. I don't know. I've
always felt that way. Any team I
was on, as much as I want to do
good, I want them to do good as
well. So we'll see how next week
goes in Dallas."
PHIL NICOLETTI
When JGR Yamaha's Weston
Peick was banned for round
two following an on-track fight
with Vince Friese, the sport's
only full-time replacement rider,
Phil Nicoletti, began to fill in at
the races. The following week,
Nicoletti's racing season be-
came semi-permanent, as Justin
Barcia found himself needing
surgery and dropped out of the
championship prior to round
three.
"It's hard because I am a fill-in
guy," Nicoletti said. "Obviously
the past few weeks, getting 18th
in the main events isn't where I
want to be. I need to eliminate my
tip overs that I'm having. I know
I can be definitely between 11th
and 15th every weekend. There's
no doubt about it in my mind. My
fitness is awesome, bike is really
good. It's just, gosh, it sucks to
have little tipovers and the guys
be so fast to where you lose six
spots right away. And then to
make up those six spots is nearly
impossible."
Phil Nicoletti has made main
events at all five races he's raced
so far this year, but falls have cost
him dearly in those races.
