Name: Saya Sakakibara

Date: Sunday 30th September 2012

Venue: Southlake Illawarra

Race: NSW State Championships

Class: 13 Girls

Result: 1st

Weather: Sunny and windy

Course condition: Really nice and smooth. In great condition and was really good to ride on.

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

 

I was really excited that the State titles were at my home track. It was going to be good racing.

Today was a late start because of the postponed races from yesterday were run very early this morning. So I had a nice sleep in. Also the daylight savings doesn’t start till next Sunday so it wasn’t a one-hour-less-sleep-night.

We got to the track and it was nearly ten o’clock. The racing started at around twelve o’clock.

 

On the first moto, I had lane three and I had a pretty good start. I was in front but not too far behind was Jess McCormack and Georgia Beckers. I manualed the first double nicely but I went sideways a little bit because of the wind. I pumped the next double into the corner. I got some speed as I pedalled out of the corner and I manualed the first step up. I was still leading but I knew the other girls were not far back behind me. I went over the triple and I pedalled into the second corner. On the third straight, the wind was really strong that all my manuals were sideways. But I didn’t stop doing them. I came first.

 

My second moto was pretty good as well. I had lane five and my start was no too bad but not the best. I came out in front and I did an awkward manual on the first double. An awkward manual means a bit wobbly and awkward. Anyway, my second straight was pretty smooth. The third straight wasn’t too windy so I was able to not go sideways. I finished the race and came first.

 

The third moto wasn’t as good nor as fast as the past two races. I had lane two and I had an alright start. I was in front but my first manual came up too short and I cased it just a little bit. On the second straight as well. I cased the step up and on the triple, I got mixed up if I was going to jump it or manual it. So it turned out to be a half manual half jump. Third straight was pretty slow. I was losing speed as I manual when I should be gaining speed. But I came first.

 

On final I had first lane choice. I was nervous but not too much because I had to stay positive. Once I got onto the gate I stayed in my own world; no one else but me. The gate went down and I went for it. I manualed the first jump very nicely and I was in front. On the second straight I was able to pull off another good and smooth straight by manualing and jumping. My third straight I think was the best out of the whole day for me because I didn’t go sideways or case anything so it was fast. I pedalled around the last corner, it wasn’t finished yet. I manualed the two jumps and came first.

It was a great day of racing and I had fun racing at my home track,

 

Now just a week off and back in to training for the ACT’s!