Muc-Off/FXR/ClubMX Yamaha's Filthy Phil Nicoletti keeps rolling through his farewell season...with good results! More incredible starts and first-lap speed at Southwick left the man with 9-9 scores and eighth overall. Hey, the overall math actually worked in his favor this time!
Phil's on a roll, so this might be the best time to fire off some questions to him (phil@racerxonline.com).
Here's this week's stuff, from you.
Phil,
You’ve been around this sport for years and have seen plenty of personalities. I’m curious to get your take on Haiden Deegan constantly mentioning people doubting him in podium interviews. I’m not asking for you to talk trash on the kid, that’s not the purpose of this question, but is that just something he’s using to motivate himself? Or are there people in the industry who are saying things behind the scenes we don’t know about? Because from where I’m standing, I don’t know anyone, fans or haters, who doubts his ability to win.
What am I missing?
-Weekend Batman
I can tell you from the inside that no one “inside” is doubting Haiden's abilities on a dirt bike. Definitely not anyone around me. Some guys thrive on that type of shit thought. Making up a scenario in therir head, and using that as fuel. Jeremy Martin, was the king of that. Taking something that someone said and spinning into motivation. We used to tell Jmart “Hey I don’t think it was meant like that, or I think they were joking” and he would be like NOPE F$$$ THAT! So I think Haiden is the same way. Uses it for motivation. I’m sure you’ll see and hear more of it throughout the year. The narrative might change through the year from him because there's not going to be a lot of haters or doubters around for long. But if the way he talks and does shit is enough to bother his competitors...hammer down and keep that edge.
Phil,
Another amazing performance at a brutally rough track. As you have said your entire career, starts, starts, starts! And they were once again on point at MX338. That brings me to my idea of the “Phil Nicoletti Holeshot school.” What do you think?
-Jim
P.S. - I think you can best that 9-9 at Southwick later this year.
Jim,
I hate teaching schools……hate it! I’m not built for that. I’m good for two or three schools a year. That’s it. So you think it’s a good idea for me to sit there and listen to bikes doing gate drops at 10,000 RPM? Yeaaaa, I don’t think so. If you know that someone is a good starter, use your own damn eyes and go watch that person over and over. Or pull up one of these genius on YouTube that have the answer for how to ride. They got all the answers. Everyone has their own technique on how to do shit. There is no perfect way. The way I start is very different compared to Jett and Hunter. At Southwick, there we were. Everyone has their quirks. If I had one tip I could give here, and without having to teach a school and hear a bunch of kids on 85s revving the piss out of their bikes on the gate, I'll give it: The starting procedure is a system. The same boxes get checked every gate drop. If I miss a box. I start over. Plan and simple. You have to be consistent.
Short-Timer Phil,
We’ve all worked with people who’ve put in their two-week notice and suddenly become lazy sacks of poo because they know they’re leaving anyway. But you don’t seem to be phoning it in at all this year. In fact, it seems like the opposite. Your starts are crazy good, you’re running well, and your results are great. You definitely don’t seem like you’re struggling with motivation. Are you finding it easier to leave it all out on the track knowing you won’t have to get ready for a new season at the end of the year?
-Fat Stan
Unfortunately my two week notice is lasting longer than two weeks. But the struggle is real. It's just that my recovery during the weeks sucks. Maybe it’s because I’m unfit! haha. But my priority is being fresh for Saturday. So if that requires me to do a 20 minute moto over a 30 minute moto, I do. If I can’t ride Tuesday/Wednesday, I’ll just do Tuesday. 25 years old compare to 35 years old is a big difference. I wish I didn’t sound like a pansy ass, but it’s true. Adding my injury’s the past three years, the shit takes a toll. Now with my knee, it’s just a f$&@?!# battle. It truly is! But Saturdays, and lining up on that gate, and hearing the fans, will never get old. So I will take that all in. I appreciate everyone that cheers me on along the fence. Just trying to empty the tank.
--Phillip Nicoletti
