Story Written by:  Steve Cox

Publication:  http://www.racerxonline.com

Original Publication 12/24/2009 by Racer X

DNA Shred Stix/Star Racing Yamaha’s Broc Tickle is coming out of his best season so far, and he’s going into Anaheim I with high hopes. Now on board the new 2010 Yamaha YZ250F, but on the same, familiar team, Tickle hopes his off-season preparation will result in some top finishes – or maybe wins. At the end of the year, if things go according to plan, Broc Tickle will be a stranger no more.

Racer X: What have you been doing the last few months since the season ended?
Broc Tickle: I started training and riding in November getting ready for this season, and I have a new trainer now: Charles Dao from Icon Sports Performance. I’ve been pushing my limits with him, and I can tell a big difference in my riding. I’ve been able to do my motos stronger than ever, so it’s been great just coming out to the track and putting in solid motos day-in and day-out.

It probably does a lot for your confidence to know when you line up that you can do the whole 15 laps at full speed instead of thinking about the pace you need to set to make it the whole way or something like that, right?
Yeah, definitely. Last year, I got hurt before Anaheim [broken jaw on press day for A1], and I missed some of the rounds of the east coast, and I wasn’t really ready yet when I did come back. Now I know I’m ready to go out there and basically kick some ass.

So it’s time to put your best foot forward, huh?
Yeah, for sure. I put all my eggs in one basket this year, and all I’ve been working on is my racing. That’s going to pay off. I’ve been working a ton on my starts, and that has really been my weak point, but now I have them down really, really good. I’m excited for this 2010 season.

You’re racing West, right?
Yeah, that’s the plan.

It’s your first time racing West, right?
Well, last year I was supposed to race West, but then I got hurt. But yeah, this is my first year racing all the races on the West, and I think it’s going to be good for my riding style, since I’m really smooth and I don’t make a bunch of mistakes out here practicing. When it’s hard-packed, I have really good throttle control, normally, so I hope it will work for me.

So, you think it will suit you more than the ruts and all that stuff?
Yeah, but I like that, too! That’s the funny thing. That’s what I grew up riding, but I’ve learned to ride hard-pack pretty good, so I’m excited about this year.

Where have you set your goals for this season?
I definitely know I belong on the podium, and not finishing on the podium would definitely disappoint me, but I really want to get my first win this year, and I think it can be done. There’s nobody out there that has been working as hard as I have.

What do you think of the new 2010 Yamaha YZ250F?
The new YZ250F is amazing. They’ve done some little changes here and there, and the suspension’s actually really good, and it turns really well. The motor is a lot better from last year, at least on the practice bikes right now, and then we get to ride our race bikes next week, so I’m really excited to get that started and get the ball rolling. They say it’s way faster. So I’m excited.

Well, that can be good and bad, right?!
Exactly... (Laughs)

Talk about getting the number 20 for this season. I know it was a big deal for you to get that low in the numbers.
I just think it’s a cool looking number all-around. It’s definitely exciting to get a low number, finally, and it feels good because I hope that people will know who number-20 is by this year. It’s not like, “Who’s number 43?” Hopefully they know who I am, and it was really cool to get a low number. I was excited for that. It was one of the best things to happen to me from the outdoor season.

Yeah, but you also had a moto podium at Colorado!
Yeah, that one moto. Most of my races were pretty good, but I had my ups and downs. My downs weren’t really that bad, so I look at it like a good thing, because they weren’t that bad, but I just needed to work on my starts, and I’ve been doing that. Both times I got on the podium this year – in Toronto and in Colorado that first moto – I got a good start. I was top-three. That’s my goal, to get good starts, and then just see where it takes me. I’ve just got to be calm and finish my 15 laps strong.

You just need to be a better racer instead of being a better rider...
Exactly. Exactly.