Name: Kai Sakakibara

Date: 6th and 7th January 2012

Venue: Nerang, Queensland

Race: National Champ Bikx 2012 Round 1 and 2

Class: 16 boys

Result: Round 1 – 3rd; Round 2 – 2nd

Weather: Sunny and warm all weekend.

Course condition: Very fast and smooth. Well prepared.

Redline, Blackman Bicycles, Time pedals, Champion System, Michram Industries, Bluefit, Peabody

 

The racing started off on the afternoon of Friday the 6th. I had already had good track time on the days before, so I didn’t have to spend a long time practicing on the track. The track had changed a lot since last year, and the asphalt corners meant faster racing.

 

The racing started off with the time trials. I had a pretty smooth lap overall, and scored a 3rd in the time trials.

The racing started after all the time trials finished.

 

My motos went through quite smoothly. I had some problems with my gate, but I sorted it out through the motos. The racing was close between Alex Cahill and I, but I ended up with a 2nd in every race.

 

There wasn’t a massive number of riders, but that meant that every moto was stacked with fast riders.

 

I chose lane 1 for my semi final. I came out of the gate quite well, but Aaron Nottle and Kyle Borresen came out in front. I was in 3rd around the first corner, and held that position down the second straight as well. My third straight was strong and I was right with Aaron in 2nd, but I couldn’t do enough to get in front. I finished 3rd.

 

I came out of lane 4 in my final. I had a pretty slow start as I wheelied out of the gate, and got sucked into the pack. I was mid pack into the first corner, but was able to cut under a few riders and pulled myself into 3rd into the second straight behind Tristyn Kronk and Aaron Nottle. Tristyn got pushed up the second corner by Aaron, and I went under him to put myself into 2nd. My rhythm was good, but I was on the outside of Aaron down the third straight and couldn’t quite cover my line into the last corner. Jordan Lecher came up the inside around the last corner and pushed me up high. I came back through though and held onto 3rd from there.

 

 

 

There were no time trials for Champ Bikx on the 2nd Round, so it was straight into racing for us.

My motos went well, with a 1st, 1st, 2nd. My laps were quite consistent and smooth in moto 1 and 2, but I didn’t quite come across enough down the first straight in the last moto and let Jeremy Mclerie through to win it. I was in a fine qualifying position for the semis though.

 

I had 3rd pick for the semi, and got lane 3.

 

My start was good and I came out well, but Jordan Lecher on the inside of me came out with the better so I was in 2nd around the first corner. I maintained my position down the second straight, and stayed right with Jordan down into the third straight. I had a bit of an over jump over the gap between the step up and step down, but didn’t lose too much speed and kept it going. I couldn’t quite pass Jordan though, and I finished 2nd.

 

I had an early pick for my final as well, and got lane 1.

 

My gate was good, but I came out a bit sideways and lost a bit of my momentum. This put me behind a bit down the first straight, but I was still in 3rd or 4th into the first corner. Aaron Nottle ran into me halfway around the corner which scraped away some of my speed, but I was able to hold my position of 3rd around the first corner. Alex Cahill got some speed around the first corner and passed me on the outside down the second straight, but I got the inside of him around the second corner and regained my position. My rhythm section was pretty smooth, and I pulled it around the last corner for a last minute move. Kyle Borresen in front of me had lost some speed around the last corner, and I was able to pass him down the last straight. I finished 2nd.

 

It was a good set of rounds for me at Nerang, and set me up for with a good start to the series.