MXlarge: Jake, congratulations on the victory last weekend. How did it go at the Red Bull Pro Nationals?

Nicholls: The Red Bull Pro Nationals was okay. I had a sore throat all week and Saturday morning I was really not well. I only got to ride once in the week and the preparation wasn’t perfect. I knew I did enough. I qualified first MX2, I was 10^th out of the start in the first moto and it was hard to pass the 450’s, I ended up second in that one to Elliot (Banks Browne). I had good speed at the end, so that was a positive. I slept between the motos, I was so tired. Second moto I had another okay start, and just rode hard and passed Elliot and was first MX2 rider. I was happy enough with that.

MXlarge: Two weeks earlier you had the opening round of the Maxxis British Championship. How did that go for you?

Nicholls: The British went well. We went in expecting a big mud race, so much rain in England around that time. We had two weeks in Spain and I did some riding at home as well, so we were good coming in. The track was good, was a bit wet to start with, but it was in good conditions. I was third in the superpole which I was happy with, then the first race I holeshot and was riding pretty good, then I started tightening up which you can expect so early on. The track had really deep ruts, but it was also slow, so you couldn’t be aggressive, which is kind of my style. I crashed five laps in and got sixth in that one. The other two I holeshot and lead, then Zach was able to pass me and put some time on me, but I wasn’t too bothered about that, I just wanted a top three overall. It wasn’t a track that suits my style, but it suited his style. The track was a little like Turkey, spongy and ruts that type of thing. I wasn’t riding my best, so that was okay.

MXlarge: And a week ago you had Hawkstone Park.

Nicholls: Being honest going into Hawkstone I figured there were all those good sand riders, and I was going to be happy with a top six.  I knew Shaun, Roczen, and Roelants were going to be hard to beat around there. To come away with 5-3 results was really good, in qualification I wasn’t that far off those guys pace.

Obviously Shaun crashed chasing Roczen and I was in third and riding pretty good. I tightened up in the first race again, but rode well in the second race, like I feel I can. I wasn’t making big mistakes, but overshooting corners and that is where the sand guys don’t make mistakes. Again I was far from my best.

MXlarge: How do you feel now? How is your confidence?

Nicholls: I am pretty confident really going into the Grand Prix. My best laps were not a million miles away from Roczen’s and I know I am not miles away from where my goals are. Don’t get me wrong, they (Roczen, Simpson and others) have done that and done this, but when I get on the start line I don’t really care who it is, if it’s Stefan Everts or whoever, I just go out and do my best and all I do is my best and what happens, happens. I feel as though my best is as good as those guys, and I haven’t shown my best yet. I don’t want to be at my best yet, I want to be at my best at the later part of the year. I just want to beat all the people I can.

MXlarge: How is the bike compared to last year?

Nicholls: The bike is similar actually we have improved it a little bit, worked on the setup from last year and I have a new mechanic and his setup style is different, which helps. I have been getting good starts; I don’t think I have had a bad start yet. I am sure it will come, but last year that was my weakness. I think if I can consistently get my starts down I can show another side again.

MXlarge: What do you have coming up before Bulgaria?

Nicholls: We have Mallory Park for the second round of the Maxxis, then a weekend off before Bulgaria. That is pretty handy really. Practice on hardpack for Bulgaria, and then I will go to Belgium for a week I need to also prepare for Mantova and Valkenswaard.

MXlarge: What are your goals for Bulgaria?

Nicholls: Bulgaria, my goal I haven’t really thought about, two top six’s would be perfect, but if I am in the top ten I am not going to leave there unhappy.