Name: Saya Sakakibara

Age: 12

Date: Sunday 2nd October 2011

Venue: Liverpool BMX Track

Race: NSW State Championships

Class: 11-12 Girls

Result: 1st

Weather: Rainy and horrible weather

Course condition: Very muddy and sloppy

Redline, Blackman Bicycles, Time, Champion System, Mitch Ramm Industries

 

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN. It’s another rainy State titles about to start. Gosh it is cold. There was an announcement and it was about 11 year girls had to race the 12 year olds so it was a combined class.

 

For my first moto, I had lane seven. I had a really bad start and Stefanie got in front of me. Down on the bottom of the start hill, was sloppy and slow mud and my back wheel was spinning as I was trying to pedal. On the triple though, I got in front of Stefanie and got into the first corner first. The track was really slow. I was pumping as hard as I could but I didn’t get anywhere. That was when I realised I needed to pedal in between each jump instead of pumping. It was hard work. And it was a cold day so I was stiff even though I did heaps of squats and lunges. I pedalled to the finish line and I came first.

 

I had lane four for my second moto, and I had a good start. I came across to the inside so I could get a good lead into the first corner. I was actually pedalling this time in between jumps but it was pretty tiring and slow. I could hear Chelsea catching up but there was no way of her getting in front of me. Anyway, I kept my lead and came first.

 

My third moto was pretty much the best moto because I had a really good start and I didn’t hear or see anyone come up next to me trying to catch up. So I came first.

 

For my final, I chose lane one. I had a really good start and I came out in front. I went into the sloppy mud on the triple. I came out the front with Emma little bit behind me. She wasn’t too far away so I couldn’t relax just yet. I was so tired as I was pedalling around that second corner. Maybe I did too many squats and lunges to keep me warm before my race. Anyway, the third straight was hard trying to pedal in between those sharp doubles. Last corner was my relief. I was nearly finished! Oh no, Emma is back. I saw her coming right next to me! I pedalled as hard as I could. “One” said the pointer as I went across the line first.

 

It was fun racing the girls. Including the 11 year olds. They did a good job. But it felt really good when I got 1 NSW for the fifth time in a row.