We gave Jake a call and asked him how things are in the winter.

Q: Jake, so what have you been up to in the winter? Did you do something fun since the season ended?

Nicholls: When the season finished I took part in Weston beach race which got cancelled due to a crash then one week later I flew to New Zealand with 3 close friends for a month’s holiday, my Granddad lives out there too so I met with him for a few days. We bought a car and basically road tripper our way around the islands. Met up with Scotty Columb to which was awesome, thanks to his family and himself for great hospitality. We did pretty much everything you can do there extreme wise, the biggest bungee, biggest skydive. All sorts, and I switched off from racing completely which was nice.

Q: How do you prepare for the next season, what is your system from October until now?

Nicholls: My winter training started mid November; I train 5 days a week depending on how I feel. My main training is Boxing, I do that every afternoon. I really enjoy it as its competitive, really good fitness for MX and I don’t mind getting stuck in.... In the mornings I train on my own doing my road work.

Q: What about in the coming weeks, how do you train and what races are you planning on doing?

Nicholls: Everything’s becomes a bit more intense now as we start racing soon, I go to Spain on the 24th for 10 days of testing and riding. I’m at the KTM camp for a week which was great last year then I am back home, swapping between Belgium and home depending on tracks and weather, I will be riding with Josh a fair bit all going well.

Q: 2009 was a bit of a breakthrough year for you, there wasn't much pressure and you got noticed much more. How will that work for you this year now that you are under the spotlight a little. With Billy gone and a bunch of other brits not racing GP it's up to you and Shaun really isn't it?

Nicholls: I'm going to the race with he same frame of mind as I always do, try my hardest and don’t give up till the flag. That’s basically it, my feet are firm on the ground and I will just do my best. I guess you could say it’s up to us but I think were both up to the challenge and were both fighters, enough said.

Q: What is the biggest thing you learnt about yourself in 2009?

Nicholls: That I can do it. I always doubted myself a bit at the GP's before but 09 made me realize, I deserve to be there and I’m good enough for big things...

Q: Do you have goals for this year. It's not going to be an easy year, so many good young riders in the MX2 class.

Nicholls: My goals are to win the British title and to get in the top 5 in GP's, I know its going to be tough but I’ve worked hard for this and I’ve got to reach out and get it.

Q: Whets your take on all the going on in the AMA Supercross. Do you follow the entire Reed versus Stewart stuff?

Nicholls: I love the whole supercross thing, as it stands though I still don’t actually know what happened between them at the weekend, I need to read up on here... All I know is that I recorded A1 on sky planner on Tuesday and I’ve watched it about 8 times already :-)