2017
JG (Jason Gibbons): Bryce, I’m happy you could be with us today. You’re off to a fast start on your career, so thanks for slowing it down for us.
BN (Bryce Nickel): I’m more than happy to be here. I’m thrilled. It’s obvious he’s thrilled, he’s practically bouncing in his seat through the entire interview.
JG: Let’s start with some basic background information for new fans that may not know you yet. Where are you from and how did you start racing?
BN: Right, I’m from South Carolina, born and raised. I, uh, I grew up riding dirt bikes, so I guess someone spotted my talent early on. I don’t remember ever not riding. My family, cousins and all, were into dirt bikes when I was little. It’s a typical story.
JG: Not so typical is your rise to the top. It’s no easy feat to make it into the 250 Supercross division.
BN: Is that a question?
JG: Laughing. No, not really. But, your first few races have ended with you on the podium. You’re really talented. You have a great team and a great bike, but what else is it about you? What make Bryce Nickel the winner?
BN: Now he’s laughing. Oh well, the bike is everything, so TopSport and Susiki own that, but I just stay positive and I don’t ever give up. I psych myself up for every practice and every race.
JG: How do you do that? What’s your routine?
BN: As he answers this one, he gets more and more excited and animated. Music. I put my headphones in and let it take me to that corner of my mind where I just cannot be stopped. I love it. Right, like The Mighty Bosstones or Reel Big Fish, or Rancid. I love-love Rancid.
JG: Well, it seems to be working!
BN: If it stops working, maybe I’ll try something else.
JG: Like most Supercross racers, you’re very young, just turned eighteen. Do you feel like you’ve given up your life, your childhood for racing? Do you regret that?
BN: He bites his bottom lip. His blue eyes are sparkling intensely as he decides how to answer that question, one I had no idea would be so hard for him to answer. Finally, he take a breath – decided. No. You see, uh, I think my life would have been worse had it been like a normal childhood.
JG: How’s that?
BN: I think I would have been bullied. I was homeschooled because of racing, and I’m thankful for it. It gave me something outside of myself to focus on and kept me away from bullies. I mean, kids can be mean, and they will pick on people who are different. I’ve always been different.
JG: He seems to be struggling with this, and I thought it would be a simple conversation. With his deep blue eyes and cute freckles, not to mention the purple striped hair, he looks like a typical teenager. You don’t seem different to me. What’s different?
BN: Isn’t it obvious? No? Well, like…kids are just mean. That’s all.
JG: I don’t see anything obvious.
BN: Uh, well, like, you don’t really know me.
JG: You seem like a regular guy...
Bryce rolls his eyes but doesn’t seem like he’s going to say anything else about that subject, leaving us to speculate.
JG: Well, you have the skills to back up your attitude. So, tell me about your bike and your team.
BN: Suddenly, he stills and a serious expression crosses his face, almost as if a switch has been flipped turning him instantly from a fun loving young man to a serious hard core racer, but no less excited.
My Suzuki is a dream. I was on Yamaha before joining TopSports, and it was great, but the new bike is a better fit.
The suspension is superior and makes it easy to handle.
I can put it exactly where I want it on every lap.
Reuben, my coach, he helps with that too.
And more. I really have a super team. I work well with my mechanics, I’m learning a lot from them. So, it’s all coming together.
He finally runs out of steam, but it’s fun watching his expressive face as he talks. It’s easy to see how passionate he is for racing.
JG: I think we’re all impressed with what you’re doing on the track, and it’s inspiring to see someone as intense as you. Aside from racing and music, though, what do you do? Do you have any close friends in Supercross?
BN: His serious face again as he shrugs and looks around, and for the first time since we started the conversation, he’s not bouncing in his seat. No, uh, I don’t know. I guess, there’s like not much time for anything else. Right?
JG: Do you not want to discuss your private life, Bryce?
BN: Not particularly.
JG: Okay. Well, that’s really all the time we have anyway. Thank you for being here and we hope your ride only gets better from here, Bryce. Good luck.
BN: Thanks. I’m really loving this.
The conversation ends with Bryce smiling again. It’s obvious, to this journalist at least, that he’s a serious, yet private young man with boundless energy and enthusiasm for the sport.
Bryce Nickels, TopSports Racing Team, 250SX. We’re going to be seeing a lot more of this spit-fire on the podium through the rest of the season and the years to come.