ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Motorcycle racing legend, iconic journalist, and Yamaha Champions Riding School founder Nick Ienatsch joins us for Episode 30 of the Bore & Stoke podcast!
In this episode, we sit down with one of the most influential figures in American motorcycle coaching. From the frantic grids of AMA 250 GP racing to the peak "golden era" of print magazine testing at Motorcyclist and Sport Rider, Nick Ienatsch has seen, ridden, and written it all.
We dive deep into the origin story behind his legendary riding philosophy essay, "The Pace," how raw two-stroke race bikes shaped his view of motorcycle riding and testing, and why the old street-riding myth of "doing all your braking in a straight line" is so incredibly dangerous. Whether you are a street rider looking to survive traffic, a track-day enthusiast looking to improve, or just want to hear some good stories about riding and racing, our conversation with Nick will have you laughing and taking notes at the same time.
00:00 Intro
01:30 Shoutout to past episodes
02:20 Introducing our guest!
08:00 What Nick rides the most
16:00 Where did the motorcycling bug come from?
18:44 Nick’s first roadrace — with no idea what he was doing
21:00 How Nick really got the racing bug
25:56 Are you racing other people or yourself?
28:00 Who’s got the dirty truck?
34:55 How do you know a crash is coming?
39:38 Minibike racing is the best
43:00 Mistakes happen — can you adjust?
52:11 Why racing benefits the moto-journalist
55:40 When Nick knew pro racing wasn’t for him
01:03:41 The secret behind riding Lawson’s 500 that nobody knew
01:12:10 The start of Sport Rider magazine
01:22:20 The Pace and The Pace 2.0
01:29:53 Comparing two-strokes vs four-strokes
01:39:00 Nick’s idea to bring bikes back to Pike’s Peak
01:42:55 Where do you stand on electronic rider aids?
01:50:30 This is what today’s bikes REALLY need
01:53:00 Biggest misconception riders at all levels have
01:57:15 Best practices
01:59:05 MSF new rider school has it all wrong
02:09:00 Where to find Nick and Champ School
02:10:03 Wrap up/Rate us
