Name: Saya Sakakibara

Date: Friday 20th April 2012

Venue: Mt Gambier BMX Track

Race: Australian National Championships

Class: 13 Girls

Result: 1st

Weather: Not too hot and great weather. A bit of wind

Course condition: So smooth, Smoothest outdoor track I ever ridden.

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

 

When I opened my eyes in the morning I started to get really nervous. My heart was pounding so hard that it was hurting my chest. I was in block 2 so we didn’t need to get there until ten o’clock so I had a lie in and I went for a ride which made me calm down a little bit.

 

It finally came to the first moto after a few laps around the track for warm-ups. I had an alright start and I came out in front. I jumped the first jump but my back wheel went sideways. Around the first corner, I knew that Laura Mclerie was just behind me. I manualed the first jump on second straight good and nearly flipped the next double. Laura caught up but I still had the lead. I pumped good on third straight and I was heading for the finish line first. I came first.

 

On the second moto, I had lane four and I had a good start. I jumped the first one good. On the second straight, I manualed the first jump on second straight and I jumped the next. I went pretty well and I didn’t get that kicked on the next one. After the second corner, I backed off a little bit so I came second.

 

I came out of lane eight with a good start. My jump wasn’t very good because I cased it. Then Laura came up next to me. She had the inside lane so she pushed me up but then I did a high-low on her and got in front. I was still able to jump the second double. I went as hard as I can on this one because the results of this race decide lane draws for the semi-finals. So I tried to keep my speed down third straight even though I was getting kicked. I pedalled to the end and got first.

 

First lane choice on the semi final and I chose lane one. I had the worst start ever but I picked myself up and jumped the first jump. I was in first but Katie Van Zanden was very close to me. On the second straight I jumped well and I got good speed because I landed very smoothly. I pumped through and I heard Katie coming up next to me. But I kept my place and came first.

 

My final was coming up and I was pretty calm until it was time to go to staging. Then I got calmer again. I was pretty calm on the gate but my heart was pounding as the commentator called out the riders’ names. BAM! The gate went down but I went sideways and I nearly bumped into Sara Jones. But I tried to keep my speed so I can jump that first double. I did it pretty well but Sara was still in front of me. I could hear people cheering. Then I saw Katie next to me and she got in front of me. I had the inside line around the first corner. We bumped a little bit and I got in front of her and I was in second but not too far away. My second straight was the best out of the whole day. It was good. Katie was still next to me. As I was pedalling around the second corner, Katie came on the inside and we were battling until I got in front of her. As I was pedalling on the last jump on the third straight, I thought I need to hurry up and do something if I want to win! Then I swooped under Sara and got in front. I pedalled as hard as I can I don’t think I ever went that hard for the last straight. I got it. I won it. I WON!

 

It was a really good trip. I had fun caching up with my Queensland friends. Now just a 14 hour drive back home...