Feature If I could say anything to young kids to try to help then it would probably be about that sacrifice it takes to be at the top level, and try to show up every single time as focused as possible to do the job at hand. And try to stay healthy!” Factory rides are few and far between, and talent is abundant. So abundant that the competition for the top saddles in the entry level Supercross 250SX class these days starts well before budding athletes turn Pro. The trend that started when Nichols was younger has now intensified. “To see how it’s evolved is kind of crazy,” Nichols opined. “Now there are some kids that are getting signed to professional deals, and they’re 14 years old. They’re still on minibikes. They haven’t even quite made it to big bikes yet. It’s rapidly, rapidly changing. Everybody always wants the ‘next great thing’. That’s in every sport, not just ours. It’s definitely changing pretty quick.” From Nichols’ experience he sees a few red flags. “In order to compete with those kids getting opportunities parents think they have to pull their kid out of school and homeschool them and travel the world and go to all these training facilities. That’s what they want. I just feel that’s asking for disaster. Then the parents are relying on the kid and it’s already giving him so much pressure at a young age. They’re already looked at like a make-it-or-break-it. They’re so young. I just think that’s tough. I think that’s unfair for the kids.” “I really wish there was a different way to go about the amateur racing scene and get it revised in some way.
Like I said, if people wouldn’t have signed me when I was 13, I wouldn’t have known what to do with it. Even when I was 16, I didn’t know what to do with it. So it kind of took me a few years to find my stride and realize what was going on. The landscape is tough right now. But all you can do, if you love dirt bikes and you really enjoy this stuff, you go out and you try your hardest, even if you’re going to school or doing whatever. I’m a testament to that: you can actually still go get it done and sign with a factory team and live out your dream.” Looking ahead, will there be another opportunity for ‘another Colt Nichols’? Nichols definitely hasn’t seen the signs of a shift on the horizon and is quite honest about the fact that what worked for him might not necessarily work for everyone else.