Nick Romano’s journey back to the front of the pack reached a major milestone at Thunder Valley, as the American secured the first overall podium of his professional career.
Romano put together an impressive and consistent day aboard the Pro Circuit Kawasaki, finishing 4-5 in the motos to earn third overall. Initially brought into the team as a fill-in rider, the former amateur talent is quickly proving he deserves to be viewed as much more than a temporary replacement.
After enduring injuries, setbacks and moments where he questioned whether he even wanted to continue racing, Thunder Valley represented both redemption and validation for the hard work that brought him back to this point.
Reflecting on the difficult road he has travelled, Romano admitted there was a time when he was ready to walk away from the sport altogether.
“First off, it’s just been a work in progress. A lot of trial and error. For me, there were a lot of unknowns a year ago, at one point I told myself and my parents I was quitting and I was done. It was just kind of a dark road there for a couple of years at the end of my stint with Yamaha. When I went privateer, it just was one after another. So I told myself about six/eight months ago, I said, if I can’t get back on a factory bike that this is it. I hounded Mitch for a long, long time and I truly can’t thank him enough for the opportunity, it’s just a blessing. I guess on paper, I’m the fill guy, but I’m trying to establish myself to be a full time guy. Every weekend has been good, the bike is amazing and the team is great. We have really good banter going with Levi, Seth and now Drew is back and Enzo. It is just fun times”.
The opportunity with Pro Circuit Kawasaki has given Romano a fresh perspective, and the time spent recovering from injuries appears to have reshaped the way he approaches both racing and life.
“After the injuries, I had a lot of time to myself to sit there, you’re hurt. You sit there, you watch, you sit there, you train. I just I have a different mentality going into everything now. It’s not even about the fill in or this or that. I have the opportunity in my hands right now And I’m just taking it literally race by race, day by day. At the end of the day, I do want the contract and I do want to establish myself to be on a factory team. But, you know, if that’s meant to be, it’s meant to be. I’ve got to focus on myself and in the moment and the results. So like I said, if that comes with it, then obviously awesome. But for me right now, it’s just keep focusing. I finally got this third and I want to get it again. I want to get another podium and I want to get a win so we’ll keep working at it”.
Perhaps the biggest difference has been rediscovering his enjoyment for the sport. The pressure and uncertainty of recent years have been replaced by an environment where Romano feels relaxed, supported and motivated.
“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had. I do feel like a little kid again, I feel like an amateur. Obviously, I was a very good in my final years and I won a lot. I’m not winning yet, but it’s just fun. Like I said, with Levi, he’s basically my older brother at this point. We have fun times on and off the track and with the group and the team and Mitch and the mechanics. It’s just a really good team. There’s good movement, good motion so we’ll just keep tracking along”.
While the podium may have looked like a breakthrough to many on the outside, Romano insists it is the product of relentless dedication and learning to better balance his efforts.
“It’s really just been trusting the work I do. I’m a very self-motivated athlete and you can ask anyone around me. I work my absolute butt off to the point where maybe it’s too much. That’s kind of something I’ve learned getting Epstein-Barr Virus in the past. There’s just a fine line on everything. I know I’ve always had the fitness and I’ve always had the speed, but it’s kind of just been putting everything together. I do feel like I’m finally doing that now. I was telling my Dad just now, every weekend, I’m getting another half a lap to a lap each moto. I still need to find, whether it’s 10 to 15 seconds overall time at the end of the 35 minutes but that’ll come with confidence, good starts and just everything I’m doing. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself yet. I just want to keep doing what I’m doing”.
Romano also revealed that consistency extends beyond the racetrack, with his race-week routine becoming almost ritualistic in an attempt to replicate success.
“I just kind of stay in doing the same thing, like whether that’s on the bike programme, off the bike. I’m pretty mental when it comes to that stuff. Like this week, I had a good week last weekend, so I try to eat the same thing at the same time, same day, drink the same thing. It seemed to work out today so I try and do it again”.
When asked what emotions he felt after finally standing on the overall podium, Romano’s answer summed up the significance of the moment.
“Mainly relief. I’ve been really trying to get the moto podium. You know, that was kind of my big goal but to get it overall podium, it’s awesome, dude. I don’t even know what else to say besides it’s a dream come true”.
Thunder Valley may have delivered Romano’s first professional podium, but judging by his current form and mindset, he has no intention of allowing it to be his last. After contemplating retirement not so long ago, the American has revived his career through perseverance, self-belief and an unwavering work ethic. The “fill-in rider” label is beginning to fade, and if Romano continues on this trajectory, a permanent place in the factory paddock could soon become impossible to ignore.
