Feature Story
The Voice Behind the Bike
How Broc Tickle Translates Rider Feel Into Race-Day Performance
There’s a version of race-day success that never lines up on the starting gate. Long before the lights drop and podium celebrations begin, performance is built in quieter places on empty tracks, in long testing sessions, and through conversations most people will never hear. It’s a process measured less by lap times and more by feel, where every adjustment is dissected and every detail matters. At the center of that process for Monster Energy® Kawasaki is test rider Broc Tickle, whose role sits somewhere between rider, translator, and problem solver.
A typical day for Tickle doesn’t carry the urgency of a race schedule, but it brings a different kind of pressure. Each session is mapped out with intention as he works through a list of components, settings, and changes that need to be understood, not just ridden. His focus isn’t on going faster, but on feeling more, tracking how the bike behaves across the entire lap, how it responds under different loads, and how even the smallest adjustment can change its overall character. Every lap becomes data, and every piece of feedback has to move the program forward.
“During a testing day as the test rider, the sole focus is giving feedback,” Tickle said. “I include feedback on what the feeling is with the changes and how it affects the bike throughout the entire track.” One of the keys that comes with giving this feedback is his ability to ride with the mindset and preferences of the racer, regardless of his own opinion of the bike or specifications of it. That focus is what separates his role from the riders he supports. While racers are balancing training, recovery, and the mental demands of competition, testing can become another layer that drains already limited time and energy, so Tickle absorbs that responsibility and allows the riders to stay focused on performance while he works through the details behind the scenes.
“It’s my time, and my sole focus is on testing with the crew,” he said. “As a racer, it can be overwhelming testing due to the time and energy it can take away from off-bike training, rest, and mental energy.” The transition into that role required a complete shift in mindset, because as a professional racer success is defined by results such as lap times, starts, finishes, and progression, while as a test rider those markers fade into the background and are replaced by feel, consistency, and awareness.
“The mindset shift consisted of solely focusing on what I’m feeling on the bike versus how my performance was,” Tickle said. “Not worrying about lap times, technique, or getting my training laps in.” That attention to detail is what defines a strong test rider, but it’s often misunderstood, because it’s not just identifying problems, it’s breaking down the entire experience of the bike and communicating it in a way the team can act on. Just as important is recognizing what’s working and making sure improvements don’t come at the expense of existing strengths.
“A good test rider breaks down the feedback to the crew and explains in detail how the bike reacts throughout the track,” he said. “It’s important to focus on where the bike has opportunities for improvement, but not discounting where the performance of the bike has strengths.” This clarity becomes even more critical when working alongside racers, where communication isn’t always clean, and trust is built through understanding how each rider interprets the bike, how they express feedback, and how to translate that into direction the team can use.
“It’s a relationship that creates trust by understanding the racer from how they give feedback and relating to their feelings on track,” Tickle said. “I enjoy learning and listening to their experiences because that opens my mind up to a better understanding of what is happening and where the opportunities are.” These conversations don’t always come in perfect form, especially on difficult days when the bike doesn’t feel the way a rider expects and frustration can shape how feedback is delivered, but for Tickle those moments are part of the process.
“My experience racing and wanting the best bike comes with some days where the bike doesn’t feel and handle the way you want,” he said. “During these days, there are a lot of emotions, so the racer’s feedback can come across as misunderstanding or harsh. I approach that by listening and asking questions that guide us to the best understanding.” It’s that ability to bridge emotion and information that makes his role so valuable, because by the time the gate drops on Saturday night, much of the uncertainty has already been worked through in sessions that never make the broadcast but shape everything that follows.
When success comes, Tickle doesn’t separate himself from it and instead sees his contribution as part of a shared effort across the entire team. “It’s a team effort, and I enjoy sharing and being part of the process that leads to success,” he said. At this stage of his career, that process carries a different kind of meaning, because while he is no longer measured by his own finishes, his impact is seen through the performance of the riders he supports and the continued growth of the program. “My role means a lot to me by guiding and supporting the racers to accomplish their goals and constantly growing with the team,” he said.
Because while the spotlight falls on race day, the foundation for those moments is built long before, often by someone whose work is felt more than it’s seen.
