Goessel rider has passion for motor-cross
By DELBERT PETERS
Contributing writer
Ryan Nikkel, a Goessel High School junior, has qualified for the national competition in the sport of motor-cross, otherwise known as MX. He finished third in the 125 modified-novice division and will compete at the Ponca City Grand National Championships July 30 through Aug. 3.
Ryan finished third at the Dragroon Creek Raceway near Topeka, which qualified him for the national competition.
"I've only been racing competitively for two years," Nikkel said. "I've found that I already have a passion for the sport."
Nikkel, who has finished his sophomore year at Goessel High School, discovered his desire for this sport by "tearing around the farm" on his bicycle as a child, jumping and sliding for fun. He got an old motorcycle out of the barn several years ago and enjoyed horsing around with it.
After seeing the motor-cross sport on TV, he had an inkling that it would be something he would like to try. But he never had the opportunity to get into the motor cross environment until Casson Schmidt invited Nikkel to watch him compete at an MX event.
Schmidt and Nikkel had been paired up as teen and mentor through a mentor program at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel. Schmidt is six years older than Nikkel and was already involved racing motorcycles.
Nikkel could tell that winning wasn't always the most important part of racing, because regardless of where Schmidt finished in his races, he always had a great time.
Ryan Nikkel is the son of Steve and Darla Nikkel. The Nikkel family goes to Ryan's events together whenever possible, and Steve is the mechanic at the races.
"I don't know a whole lot about the cycle, except that it is a high maintenance machine," Nikkel said. "But my dad keeps the machine running during the day of the race."
His mother, Darla, goes along for support and is amazed that he has advanced to the national level in only his second year of competition.
The jarring and bouncing of MX racing takes its toll on the drivers during a race and requires them to be in top physical shape. Nikkel has been running and lifting weights to stay in his best form. He admits that his natural ability is probably the biggest reason that his racing has been so successful.
He wears protective gear when racing. A regular motorcycle helmet, goggles, gloves, boots, and knee braces are part of his uniform. However, this apparatus has not prevented all injuries.
"I have had concussions, three compressed discs in my back, a broken hand, and the usual scrapes and bruises," Nikkel confessed.
So why would he continue the sport?
"I love the sport because it is something I can excel in. You get an adrenaline rush participating in a race," Nikkel said. "But also the better you get at racing, you compete with drivers at a more experienced level, and you actually crash less often that you did as a beginner."
Nikkel calls Marion his home track, but he also races at the Jeeps Raceway between Newton and Wichita. He prefers to race in Oklahoma, where the dirt is better and the competition is stiffer than at the local tracks. The MX season is during the summer, and the cycles travel faster than in the arena motor-cross, but the indoor events usually have higher jumps.
Nikkel has practiced on the track in Ponca City where the nationals will be held, so he has some familiarity with the terrain. At the national event, he anticipates that all riders will be allowed to run four practice laps on the day of their first race in order to adjust their bikes and get familiar with the course. There may be 25 riders in each heat, and the top finishers will advance to the championship race later in the race.
"There are no points for style or tricks," Steve Nikkel said. "You try to get a quick start, find the fastest way around the track, and Ryan has found a way to finish in front of the pack."
