Buildbase Honda rider Jake Nicholls will race round seven of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship at RedBud this weekend.

The current Maxxis ACU British Motocross MX1 Championship leader ā€“ who raced a round of the Canadian Nationals at the start of June ā€“ wasnā€™t sure he was going to make the trip but when we caught up with him on Tuesday morning he was at Gatwick Airport about to board a flight to Canada.

ā€œIā€™m literally just showing my boarding pass and about to walk onto the aeroplane,ā€ he said. ā€œIā€™m flying to Canada and then weā€™re going to see the team I rode for last month and picking up the bike that I raced. Weā€™re staying there for a couple of days and giving it a service ourselves ā€“ Iā€™ve got my mechanic Rob and Ryan Thorpe with me ā€“ to get it ready.ā€

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Since signing for Dave Thorpeā€™s team and stepping back from GPs, Jakeā€™s been ticking off items from his bucket list and racing an AMA National is right at the top.

ā€œWeā€™ve got a bit of an adventure on our hands really. Once we get there weā€™ll be in Canada for a couple of days and then itā€™s a six-hour drive to RedBud so we should be there on Thursday in time for the press day on Friday. Iā€™ll get to know the track and then race on Saturday and fly home on Sunday.ā€

With Rob and Ryan riding shotgun, Jakeā€™s hoping to fine-tune his race bike and get it dialled to his riding style.

ā€œThe engine that they have is good and itā€™s all set-up for the fuel they use over there but weā€™re going to do bits and pieces and make it our own in certain ways. Weā€™ve got a couple of days to get it right.ā€

With the likes of Eli Tomac, Marvin Musquin and Justin Barcia in action the pace in the AMA Nationals is electric and Jake, whoā€™s now very much a part-time rider, should consider it a successful event if he can break into the top 10.

ā€œIā€™ve no expectations ā€“ Iā€™m just going to wing it and see how things go really. Iā€™ve no idea where I should finish or what Iā€™m capable of but thatā€™s the joy of events like this ā€“ just go and have a go and see where it takes us.

ā€œLifeā€™s good at the moment. Iā€™ve been so busy away from the racing so itā€™s a nice little break. Itā€™s not a holiday but it will be fun and itā€™s something Iā€™ve always wanted to do.ā€

If Jake does do well it will put him under the spotlight for a place on Team GB at the MXoN thatā€™s at the Michigan track in October.