With a truck load of points from rounds one and two Nicholls is now ninth in the World MX2 Championship and just a handful of points off Jeremy Van Hore Beek and Shaun Simpson.

We caught up with Jake as he sped towards his training camp in Belgium.

MXlarge: Jake, looking at the top ten and there is no reason with a little luck that you can’t fight for a top five place in the World Championship. How do you feel about your chances?

Nicholls: That is it, and I am starting to think that myself, but not too much. I mean I am not the most confident guy in my head and I put myself down a bit. After the last race I got a good start and was fourth behind the three factory guys and then Tonus passed me and then Roczen passed me, and then Osborne did, but I didn’t realize that in the first part of the race I was pulling away from Tonus and Osborne. Because I wasn’t really putting my head down and was just riding around trying to enjoy myself and I didn’t realize I was pulling away from them. I don’t even feel like I am riding over my head, and I haven’t been lucky.

MXlarge: You look at the first three riders and they are a level above everyone speed wise, but then it’s very competitive with maybe 10 guys.

Nicholls: It is so open. Like you said there are three that are pretty outstanding and I just want to ride steady away you know. Just keep knocking away and I am not expecting any heroics, it’s not like I got good results that I can now get on the podium. I really know how hard it will be to be on the podium and I also know how hard it is to get a fifth. I keep thinking around this time last year I was finishing 22^nd or 23^rd at the races and now it’s just better and better and I want to do the same this year.

MXlarge: On paper you shouldn’t really be making the top ten?

Nicholls: On paper like you say it’s hard work to run with these guys, but I don’t race on paper, and I just do the best I can and don’t think about who is faster, I just get out there and try and get a good start and do the best I can. If that means I am 11^th then I am 11^th, but if I am 3^rd then I am 3^rd, it doesn’t matter to me as long as I give my best. I really don’t think about hat too much. I don’t want to get too wild. I might have to be careful when I get on circuit that I really like, like Loket, I will have to be smart. If we were going to Loket I might expect more and it’s good that these tracks like Mantova are not my type of circuits and it’s great for me with these results. Because I am working hard and I know it, then it will pay off I think.

MXlarge: Looking at Musquin, Roczen and Herlings and you have to ask are these guys even quicker than Cairoli?

Nicholls: To be honest I think they are better; seriously, they are 100% on Cairoli’s pace, and maybe better. When I was following Tonus in one of the races and I was watching him, I kept telling myself to keep doing what he is doing, and I was learning from him and then you look up ahead and those guys were pulling away from him. Those top three guys have so much corner speed, it’s amazing.

I think these guys are so good for the sport, I mean I am cheesed off that I got two 15 year olds beating me and when I go home I hear that I am being beaten by these young kids, but these guys are special, really special. I take it in the chin and realize this is good for us.

MXlarge: So your goal is to run consistent races?

Nicholls: I realize from when I was younger that I can’t go too fast and I don’t want to get more injuries like I did when I was young. We are also working on the bike and it’s getting better every week and that is also giving my more confidence. I believe in the whole team system.

MXlarge: What about the USGP, you looking forward to that race?

Nicholls: I can’t wait; I think it will be awesome. I have ridden there a few times just practicing and I can’t wait. It is always nice to have a trip away like Brazil and this one. I will go a week early and get used to being there. I won’t do Hangtown; it’s a bit silly and unrealistic. It would be interesting, but I need to concentrate on what I am doing. I go there a week early to prepare for the Grand Prix.