Edited Date/Time
11/7/2017 7:14am
Brea, CA (November 6, 2017) – Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (SMAI) and Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing Team are pleased to announced that Phil Nicoletti has reached an agreement to race for the team in the 2018 Supercross 250 Championship.
Phil Nicoletti has been a part of the Joe Gibbs Racing MX (JGRMX) squad since 2014, when the Cochecton, N.Y. native was offered the unique opportunity to fill in during the Supercross series and then contest the AMA Nationals. Determined to perform regardless of the task, the 12 year Pro has achieved folklore-type status with his ardent fans. The 28 year old looks to maximize this new opportunity to compete on a factory-backed Suzuki RM-Z250 in a 250 Supercross-only deal.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my racing career with JGRMX. The crew members and I have formed a great relationship from our years of experience. It’s exciting to see Suzuki’s commitment to the 250 class, and I fully expect to be battling for podium finishes every weekend. I got a taste of 250 Supercross racing in 2017. With that under my belt, I’m looking for much more this coming season.”
Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team manager Jeremy Albrecht is excited that Phil Nicoletti is continuing his journey with JGRMX. “This past year we were able to move Phil back to the 250 class in Supercross, and he showed promise. In fact, Nicoletti scored a fifth in the 250 West series before sustaining an unfortunate injury. Phil was on the upswing, and I wanted to see what he could do in 2018 on the newly formed factory Suzuki team.”
Albrecht, a former AMA Mechanic of the Year and multi-time Supercross and AMA National-winning mechanic continued, “There’s no question that Phil Nicoletti is dedicated to his craft. He puts in maximum effort, both on and off the bike. In fact, Phil moved near the shop in Huntersville, N.C. to work closely with the team. It’s a testament to his tireless work ethic.”
Phil Nicoletti completes the Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing 250 team for 2018, joining Kyle Peters, Jimmy Decotis and 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250 Western Regional Champion Justin Hill. A team breakdown, including which coast each rider will contest, will be revealed in the coming months.
November 6th, 2017 – FXR Racing is pleased to announce the return of Jimmy Decotis to the FXR race program. We have maintained a longstanding relationship with Jimmy and know what he is capable of and the professionalism that he carries on and off the track. We will be partnering with Jimmy’s new team Autotrader/Yoshimura JGR Suzuki for his return to the MX2 class for the 2018 supercross season. Just coming off his best supercross season of his racing career, Jimmy has now aligned himself with one of the best teams in the business to give him the support to get to the next level. We look forward to the continued success that comes with an athlete of Jimmy Decotis’ calibre. We will continue to support Jimmy as he works hard to convert his JGRMX supercross deal into a 250 class outdoor ride.
Phil Nicoletti has been a part of the Joe Gibbs Racing MX (JGRMX) squad since 2014, when the Cochecton, N.Y. native was offered the unique opportunity to fill in during the Supercross series and then contest the AMA Nationals. Determined to perform regardless of the task, the 12 year Pro has achieved folklore-type status with his ardent fans. The 28 year old looks to maximize this new opportunity to compete on a factory-backed Suzuki RM-Z250 in a 250 Supercross-only deal.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my racing career with JGRMX. The crew members and I have formed a great relationship from our years of experience. It’s exciting to see Suzuki’s commitment to the 250 class, and I fully expect to be battling for podium finishes every weekend. I got a taste of 250 Supercross racing in 2017. With that under my belt, I’m looking for much more this coming season.”
Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing team manager Jeremy Albrecht is excited that Phil Nicoletti is continuing his journey with JGRMX. “This past year we were able to move Phil back to the 250 class in Supercross, and he showed promise. In fact, Nicoletti scored a fifth in the 250 West series before sustaining an unfortunate injury. Phil was on the upswing, and I wanted to see what he could do in 2018 on the newly formed factory Suzuki team.”
Albrecht, a former AMA Mechanic of the Year and multi-time Supercross and AMA National-winning mechanic continued, “There’s no question that Phil Nicoletti is dedicated to his craft. He puts in maximum effort, both on and off the bike. In fact, Phil moved near the shop in Huntersville, N.C. to work closely with the team. It’s a testament to his tireless work ethic.”
Phil Nicoletti completes the Autotrader/Yoshimura/Suzuki Factory Racing 250 team for 2018, joining Kyle Peters, Jimmy Decotis and 2017 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250 Western Regional Champion Justin Hill. A team breakdown, including which coast each rider will contest, will be revealed in the coming months.
November 6th, 2017 – FXR Racing is pleased to announce the return of Jimmy Decotis to the FXR race program. We have maintained a longstanding relationship with Jimmy and know what he is capable of and the professionalism that he carries on and off the track. We will be partnering with Jimmy’s new team Autotrader/Yoshimura JGR Suzuki for his return to the MX2 class for the 2018 supercross season. Just coming off his best supercross season of his racing career, Jimmy has now aligned himself with one of the best teams in the business to give him the support to get to the next level. We look forward to the continued success that comes with an athlete of Jimmy Decotis’ calibre. We will continue to support Jimmy as he works hard to convert his JGRMX supercross deal into a 250 class outdoor ride.
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What Phil is likely wanting (and probably deserves) to be paid for being a solid outdoor rider is probably just a number JGR can't commit to right this moment. JGR/Suzuki suddenly has A LOT of irons in the fire, and just as many question marks. Volatility and the JGR squad historically go hand in hand.
So much can happen between now and the start of Outdoors. Will one of the 250 guys rise up and steal the yellow spotlight? Will Peick and Bogle meet expectations? Will Phil, or any other rider for that matter, be healthy after a season of "deathcross"?? Will Matthes take even more advantage of the free coffee, hot dogs, and snickers ice cream bars at the JGR pit now that Barcia and his family aren't giving him the death stare???
8th in 2015 and 5th in 2016.
Pit Row
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