Interview with Nicholas Aplington-Johnson: Track Days, Racing, and Bouncing Back from Injury
I first met Nicholas in a way you don’t forget, we literally ran into each other while on track! But in true track family culture, we became friends through our shared love of track riding. ❤️🏍️
Nicholas has gone from track day rider to racer, picking up speed, skills, and a few hard lessons along the way, including a big crash last season that left him recovering from a broken hand and leg.
In this rider interview, he shares his biggest “aha!” moments, funniest track day stories, and how he mentally and physically prepared to get back on the bike.
Let’s dive in.
how did you get into motorcycles, and what pulled you into the world of track riding and racing?
My brother got a motorcycle back when I was in college (2004). That’s pretty much all it took.
It looked like so much fun that I took the MSF course the following Spring and bought a bike within the year. It took a lot longer to finally get to the track, though, I talked about doing it for years.
I was riding like an idiot on the street and knew I needed a safer place to test my limits. My wife, then my girlfriend, bought me a gift certificate for Sportbike Track Time back in 2011.
I turned a single lap and knew this was going to be part of my life for as long as I was physically able.
What’s your favorite track day ritual, something you always do before or after a session?
I don’t know if it’s my favorite ritual, but I always grab a fresh drink after every session.
Unfortunately, I always sweat like it’s 100 degrees outside if I’m even mildly active and the temperature is reasonably warm. All my gear is soaked by the end of the first session.
“Hydration is a must or I’m going to have a really bad day.” 🚰
I try to make sure I’m drinking at least 24 ounces between sessions. I also pop my helmet and gloves on a fan, strip off the suit, throw on some gym shorts, then wander around the paddock and socialize because I can’t sit still in spite of physical exertion.
That excitement just doesn’t wear off even after doing this for over a decade.
What’s one thing about track days that you wish more street riders knew?
The hardest barrier is the first one: pulling the trigger to get started.
If you have any interest in testing your real abilities on a motorcycle, commit to going to the track and make it happen. You’ll either love it and make every effort to keep going, or you’ll decide it’s not for you and consider that item checked off the bucket list.
I have a bet as to where most folks will end up, though. 😜
If track days had player stats like a video game, what would be your highest-rated skill and your weakest stat?
I’m usually a pretty aggressive braker, so I think I’d put that as my highest stat. ⭐️
Left turns, man. They’ve always been my white whale. I’ve made a lot of improvements in that area thanks to practice and Blackhawk Farms, but my right turns are still stronger.
What’s the most ridiculous or funniest thing you’ve ever seen happen at a track day?
The moment that comes to mind first was the time my friend Guido decided he didn’t want to wait for a red flag to clear during our session.
We were all sitting in hot pit chatting for a bit while we waited. Guido decided he’d had enough of that, so he fired up his bike, hit the horn on my bike repeatedly (yes, I still have a horn), then tried to make a quick exit.
In his haste, he managed to stall the engine and nearly dropped his bike in the process. It was such a newbie error. We were all dying of laughter.
What’s been your biggest ‘aha!’ moment that took your riding to the next level?
I’m going to cheat and give two, because each has been a huge step in my progress.
This is going to illustrate how low-tech my bikes have always been. The thing that took me from having a basic understanding of riding a bike on a track to being able to really bring up the pace was figuring out how to blip the throttle while braking. Until last year, I’d never had a bike with a slipper clutch, so corner entry for me was just embarrassingly bad until I got that skill under my belt.
Vision! Making sure I’ve got my eyes pointed not just in the right direction, but in the right place has made a massive difference in my pace. My lap times are dramatically worse when I’m not looking where I should be through a corner.
Track day snacks—what’s your go-to food between sessions? And what’s the worst thing you’ve eaten before riding? 🍪
I bring a ton of fruit with me to track days. Lots of sugar for quick energy, easy to digest so it doesn’t feel like you’ve got a bowling ball in your stomach, and it’s even more hydration.
Cantaloupe is my favorite, but I often have strawberries and grapes, too.
Putnam Park always has some delicious grilled food for lunch. It’s never a good idea for me in the middle of a hot day, but my taste buds don’t care.
You had a pretty rough off last season, how’s the recovery going, and how are you preparing mentally and physically for this season or riding?
The broken hand and leg really messed me up for most of the season last year. My occupational therapist was amazing, so the recovery went incredibly well. I’m still rebuilding strength in my left arm to this day, but I’m almost back to the grip strength of my right arm.
As soon as I could squeeze a clutch lever again, I managed to get one last track day in at the end of last year. I was back up to my normal pace on the SV by the end of that day.
I’ve found therapy to be helpful in dealing with life in general, and racing/riding is no exception. Processing any kind of trauma is something that’s tough to do on your own, especially when you’re not the only one that’s injured in the crash.
What’s your favorite part of the track day experience that has nothing to do with riding?
The community is just the best. Folks in the paddock are the most helpful individuals I’ve ever met. Spare parts, fluids, tire guidance, tips for a specific trouble area on the track? You ask, someone will do their best to give you a hand.
It’s infectious, too.
After you learn that’s how people act, you do the same for everyone around you. I wish this attitude could be exported to every environment across the world.
I’m fortunate to share this hobby with some of my family, too. My brother races as well, and my dad still rides a few track days a year even though he’s in his 70’s.