Best Brit...
By TMX Archives on 13th Aug 09
JAKE Nicholls was once again top Brit at Loket this weekend... and signed a new contract. The 19-year-old East Anglian (pictured right) simply goes from strength to strength this season, and the winner of the Foxhill Maxxis was setting identical lap times to the title chasers on Sunday as he converted bad starts into double figure scores on the day after signing a new contract to stay with Red Bull KTM UK for another term in 2010.
Jake's confidence is running so high that the two-year deal will allow him to opt out of the second season if a factory deal is put under his nose, but that is exactly what could happen even if he stays with Roger Magee's squad, particularly following the envisaged split between Mattighofen and Jacky Martens. The UK team has so impressed the orange bosses that it could become the official Red Bull KTM GP Junior team before long!
I'm delighted to be staying with the team, and I'll be going flat out for the MX2 Maxxis title next year as well as a top ranking in the world, enthused Jake on Sunday morning.
Team-owner, Roger Magee, added that his teenage Ulster compatriot, Graeme Irwin, will race a full GP season for the team next year, but the future of Stephen Sword is still uncertain.
Roger is keen to keep the Scot, but the age limit rule which sends Swordy' to MX1 next summer causes complications: I spoke to Luigi Zompetti of Youthstream yesterday and he confirmed that the new ruling will stand. He said the only exception will be for riders who have already a contract for a second class running into 2010.
Several teams have requested permission to continue to run riders in separate classes, but the promoters seem determined to stand firm on this point.