Nicholls shines to match career-best moto finish in Czech mud
HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK enjoyed a decent spread ofresults in various classes last weekend. The Grand Prix of Czech Republic on the ‘old school’ quick, fast and tight circuit of Loket saw Jake Nicholls equal a career-best moto finish and take eighth position overall in the MX2 class in front of 21,000 spectators (weekend figure). At the same venue Ryan Houghton placed tenth in the penultimate outing for the European 125cc two-stroke series. Meanwhile in France at Lacapelle Marival Natalie Kane was third on the 250SX-F to celebrate her first podium for the team in the FIM Women’s World Championship. Back home at Desertmartin in Northern Ireland Nathan Watson claimed fourth position in the latest outing of the BYMX national competition.
Jake Nicholls, HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK
At the forefront of the team’s activities was another confident display from Nicholls. Wet and windy weather on race-day morning meant the Loket surface was softer and rougher than in previous years but the age-old problem remained of making positions in the event of a bad start. The 21 year old didn’t have to worry about this at the launch of the first sprint of 35 minutes and 2 laps as he gated brilliantly to slot into third and held his ground with the leaders and as part of a five rider scrap for the last slot in the top three for long periods. Finally Nicholls was able to complete the race with fifth and match a career-best, achieved on one other occasion in 2010.
The second race was a little more dramatic as he became tangled in a first corner accident and then ran off the track in the opening phases. He faced a long trek ahead but showed bravery and skill to rise through from a position outside of the top twenty to reach eleventh for eighth overall. Jake is twelfth in the world championship standings and closed significantly on Christophe Charlier today. He lies just 14 points behind the Frenchman.
Jordan Booker missed out on the scoreboard by posting 26th and 24th positions but – just one week after his initiation to the Lommel sand in Belgium – was able to digest another dose of grand prix speed on one of the more unusual circuits within the FIM schedule.
In the MX1 class Tom Church was another who struggled to deal with the slipperiness of the terrain and was hamstrung by his starts. He nevertheless picked up points with 20th and 19th places in the motos on the 350SX-F.
In France Natalie Kane made her first GP appearance of the season (after recovering from injury) and acquitted herself in fine style by walking the box thanks to finishes of fourth and third.
HM Plant Red Bull KTM UK will tackle the seventh round of eight in the Maxxis British Championship next weekend at the Scottish circuit of Duns before moving south to Winchester for the British Grand Prix at Matterley Basin. For more information visit the team’s website at: www.ktmukmx.com Photo courtesy of Ray Archer
Jake Nicholls:
“It was a lottery really with this kind of track but I had a good start in the first one and rode my heart out when I got to third. I pushed and did what I could. I didn’t look back or worry who was around me and established my own pace. There was a lot of fighting and elbows going on but it was good! Last year I had the worse weekend ever here and left with an ankle injury, so that was on my mind a little bit but to equal my best result yet was a good feeling. I was confident for the second moto and started well again but when I tipped in for the first corner Tommy Searle just ploughed into me and knocked me over. I was angry, but what can you do? It messed up my GP. I put my head down and actually ran off the track on the fourth lap. I went right through the fence and how I got away with that I’ll never know. To get eleventh was unbelievable. I didn’t look at the pit-board and just went as hard and aggressively as I could. I think I showed a lot of people this weekend what I can do.”
Tom Church:
“Not a good day today. I just struggled and didn’t like the track. I’ve never been a big fan of Loket but it was about me today. I need to do some more work and this was the first little setback so far. I was just so far behind in the first laps…it was then hard to pull it back. It was good to finish another two forty minute motos and now we’ll just keep working to get ready for the British Grand Prix where I hope to be more ‘on it’ there.”
Roger Magee, Team Principal:
“We had quite a bit going on this weekend! Jake showed a good pace both days as well as the self-belief that he has what it takes to be in the top five of this competitive class. He did well to come back in the second moto on what was a track not easy for passing. Jordan struggled at Loket for his first visit but this was again good experience for him while Tom had mediocre starts and is still acclimatising to the 350. We will be hoping for a good show from him at Duns next week. We’re thrilled for Natalie in her first race since March and it shows that her hard work has paid off. Nathan and Ryan both had decent days in their respective classes and now we will be hoping for more of the same in Scotland and Matterley Basin in the coming weeks.”