Episode 30: The Masterclass of Speed: Nick Ienatsch on The Pace, 2-Strokes, & ChampSchool

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