Supercross

Nichols And Ferrandis Give Yamaha Racing Perfect 2019 Supercross Season Start

Posted:

Monday, January 7th, 2019

11:07 AM

Colt Nichols (Left) and Dylan Ferrandis gave the Monster Energy/Star/ Yamaha Racing 250SX team the perfect start to 2019 by going 1-2 at the opening round. Photo: Yamaha Racing

Colt Nichols got the new year off to a sensational start tonight, taking his first career Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX win at the season opener at Angels Stadium of Anaheim.

It was great night for the Monster Energy/Star/ Yamaha Racing 250SX team with teammate Dylan Ferrandis joining the Oklahoma native on the podium in second-place.

Nichols started the night looking poised for a top result with his solid second-place finish in his Heat race. When the gate dropped for the Main Event, he was ready. He got a good start and went on to lead every lap of the race in spite of worsening weather conditions. The result was an impressive win for the 24yr old and a stunning debut for the all-new 2019 Yamaha YZ250F.

It‰Ûªs really an indescribable feeling to win at A1. The conditions were far from perfect but I was able to stay focused, ride my laps to take the win. That was the longest race of my life, it felt like.
250SX Winner Colt Nichols

"My mechanic gave me five to go, four to go, three to go‰Û_ You‰Ûªre kind of talking to yourself a little bit to get through it," Nichols explained. "I just tried to stay consistent. I really didn‰Ûªt know how big of a lead I had and who was in second at the time, so just tried to keep the focus forward. I knew if I tried to relax a little too much I‰Ûªd probably make a big mistake and crash. So I just kind of tried to keep it moving and it ended up working out for me.

‰ÛÏThe off-season was great this year. I was really, really pumped on how everything went. This is really what it was for. You can‰Ûªt describe the feeling I had jumping that finish line in first. That‰Ûªs why we all do this. For me to cross that off my list was a really, really big deal. That made all the suffering, all the pain of the past two years completely worth it.‰Û

Colt Nichols on his way to his debut win in the 250SX West Coast class. Photo: Yamaha Racing

It was a much more difficult night for Ferrandis, but the Frenchman never stopped fighting. He showed his resolve in his Heat race, charging back through the field after breaking free of a first corner melee. By comparison, the Main Event was much smoother, Ferrandis battling in the mud to claim second spot on the podium to make it a Yamaha 1-2.

The track was difficult with the rain, but I got a good start and tried not to make many mistakes. I was able to come back for a good result, some good championship points, and leave Anaheim healthy.
Dylan Ferrandis

Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship now heads to Glendale, Arizona, next Saturday, January 12, for Round 2 at State Farm Stadium.