Name: Kai Sakakibara

Date: 5 February 2012

Venue: Liverpool, NSW

Race: NSW State Series Round 1

Class: 16 boys

Result: 3rd

Weather: Sunny and hot. 

Course condition: Nice and fast. Really good condition considering the amount of rain that fell on it recently

 

Redline, Blackman Bicycles, Time Pedals, Champion System, Michram Industries, Bluefit Gym, Peabody

 

My elbow was still hurting from last weekend’s crash at Bunbury and I wasn’t at 100% yet for racing. This aim for my racing this weekend was to start getting used to the bike again, and get some points in so I don’t fall behind in the NSW State series. 

 

There was a 25 minute warm up session before racing, where I had to get my elbow warmed up as much as possible. My elbow was still quite stiff and I wasn’t able to really go full pace as I couldn’t put a lot of weight on it. I made a decision to race comfortably but not do anything that would aggravate my elbow. 

 

I came out of the gate alright in my first moto, and found myself leading into the first corner. I didn’t have the confidence to manual the second straight with my sore elbow, so I had to jump through, and Alex Cahill came past me manualing. I was in 2nd around the second corner. My third straight was a bit floaty and Zac Wilson got past me as well, but I held my position from there and came in with a 3rd. 

 

My first straight was quite decent again in the second moto and I was in front coming around the first corner. Alex Cahill got the better again though down the second straight, where I got a bit loose and bumped my elbow. Zac Wilson came past down the third straight, and it was a fine 3rd from there. 

 

The last moto went quite well. Alex Cahill got the better of me in the moto down the first straight and I was in 2nd around the first corner. It was a pretty smooth lap from here, and I came through with a good 2nd. 

 

I had fourth pick for the final and got lane 3. I had the gate good all day, but went a tad too early in the final and tagged it down as I came out. I was behind coming down the start hill, but was able to catch into 3rd into the first corner. I did my best to keep up my speed from here, but didn’t have a massive chance in catching up the 1st and 2nd not being able to ride the track like I want to. My lap was quite smooth though, and I was able to hold onto 3rd all the way to the end. 

 

It definitely wasn’t the best result, but it was a fine result considering the crash that I had last week and the reason why I raced.