HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Phil Nicoletti will substitute for Josh Grant this Saturday Feb. 8 in San Diego Calif. at Qualcomm Stadium for round six of the 2014 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. Grant suffered a torn muscle in his shoulder during the Phoenix, Ariz. event on Jan.11. Always a determined competitor Grant has tried to race through the pain since, but it has proven to be very difficult. He and the team feel that resting and healing so he can regain his speed and strength before racing again is the best decision.
Nicoletti joined the team prior to the start of the 2014 season as part of a new pilot program designed to assist promising talent while also providing a substitute rider ready to fill in on a moment’s notice. Nicoletti has been practicing on a team bike fine and is acclimated and comfortable on his YZ450F. He has been training at Club MX in Chesterfield, S.C. and is fully prepared for Saturday’s event without any extra effort needed on his part, or the team’s. Nicoletti, who finished as high as seventh overall in 2013 as a privateer at the roughest track on the outdoor circuit, Moto X 338 in Southwick, Mass., is excited about his first opportunity to race for the team this year.
With support from JGRMX, along with Thomas Fichter, CEO of N-FAB, and Dr. Maresca, of St. Lawrence Radiology, Nicoletti is scheduled to race six events in 2014, in addition to any needed substitutions. Grant’s condition will be evaluated next week and his status for the Arlington, Tex. race on Feb. 15 at AT&T Stadium has yet to be determined. Nicoletti’s first race as a third rider on the team will be Feb. 22 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.
The San Diego race will honor the over one million service men and women in the armed forces with the first ever Military Appreciation Race, in support of Operation Homefront, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides assistance to service members and their families with a focus on wounded veterans who served on or after 9/11. The promoter of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Feld Motor Sports will make a monetary donation to the Operation Homefront. Fox Sports One will air the race live beginning at 10:30 p.m. (EST). Timed qualifying will stream live on supercrossonline.com beginning at 5:00 p.m. (EST).
