Name:            Kai Sakakibara
Age:            13
Date:            12, 13 June 2010
Venue:            Casino, NSW
Race:            Casino BMXtreme carnival
Class:            A-pro, 15 boys
Result:            A-Pro: 2nd, 15 boys: 1st
Weather:        Sunny all weekend
Course condition:    Quite smooth

Sponsors
Redline, Skins, Blackman Bicycles, Precision BMX, Time, Champion System

Race summary
We arrived at Casino on the day before racing. We got some practice in but not for long. The track was in good condition and was a perfect track for the 11 year olds who will be racing the Mighty 11’s there.
I raced both age and A-Pro this weekend. There was no 14 boys class so it was a joint class with the 15 boys.
We got some good practice in before racing. They were having trouble getting the moto sheets ready so we didn’t start racing for a while, but once it started it was quite quick.

15 boys:
We had 3 motos on day 1.

I had a good race in my first moto. I had a good start and lap, but didn’t get around the corners very well as I kept slowing down on them. I had the lead into the last corner, but left it open on the inside, leaving Bradley Fuller to come through. I railed around the corner and got him back on the last straight. I finished 1st.

In my second moto, I unclipped out of the gate, which is very unusual with the Time pedals. I got clipped in again but everyone was well ahead by then, I had to do some catching up. I had a good rest of the lap, passing and getting back into the 2nd. It was a good race.

I had a good start and first straight in my third moto and got in front into the first corner. I led out and through the second and third straight and into the second last corner. My rhythm was good and I didn’t leave the door open this time for Bradley Fuller to come through. I finished 1st. That was it for age in day 1.

In my fourth moto, I was out of lane 8. I had a good start and came across, but left enough room for Bradley Fuller to sneak through. We were elbow to elbow on the step up step down the back straight and I went untidy and unclipped. By the time I got back in I was back in 3rd place. I did the catching up and got myself into 2nd down the last straight.

In the fifth moto, I had good racing with Bradley Fuller. I had a good first straight and lead around the first corner, but Bradley came up the inside of me on the second corner. I just managed to keep him away and got a good third straight. He went for another dive on the second last corner, but I got right around him, and I had it. I finished it off well and got 1st.

Because there were only 5 riders, we had an extra moto instead of a final.
I had a good lap in my extra moto. I had a good start and lead in and out of the first corner. My second straight and third straight were good and I lead into the rhythm section. I saw Bradley Fuller coming up the inside, so I came across down the rhythm and closed it off. I got around the last corner safely and took it home. I finished 1st overall.

A pro:
There were only 8 riders so there were 5 motos and an extra moto.

I had a good start in my first moto and came across, but was in 2nd into the first corner. Corey Stafford was out in front and I was doing the chasing. I had a good second and third straight and caught up to Corey, but couldn’t make a pass on the third corner. Corey unclipped and I had him up the inside on the second last straight but he took the outside and dived in, and got back in front. I ended up with a 2nd.

In my second moto, I had a good start but everyone got a good first straight and we were all bunched up onto the first corner. I came out of the first corner in 4th and started railing to get the pass. I had a good second and third straight and went for a high-low on the third corner, but got sketchy hitting Matthew Shone and getting pushed off. I still had a good rhythm and railed the last corner for the last straight, but couldn’t gain any places. I finished 4th.

In my third moto, we all got bunched up down the first straight and there was a crash in the middle of the pack. I was leant on and was pushed right up the corner which pushed me back to 5th. I picked up a spot down the third straight and had a good rhythm, but wasn’t enough to get into the 3rd. I finished 4th.

In the 4th moto, I came out of lane 2. I had a good first straight and was in 2nd behind Corey Stafford into the first corner. I took the corner really tight and couldn’t get any pedals in. Matthew Shone railed around and got in front of me. I was in 3rd down around the second corner. I had a good third straight and caught up to Matthew. My rhythm was good and I got Matthew from the outside and got into 2nd. I finished it off and finished 2nd.

In my fifth moto, I came out of lane 8. I had a good start and came across down the first straight, but there was a big stack in the middle of the jumble and I was pushed up high on the first corner. I caught a position on the second corner, which put me into 3rd, but it still was a close race through. The rhythm section was pretty good, but I went a bit wide on the last corner trying to get speed for the last straight. Bradley Fuller came in for a move but I held him out. I finished 3rd.

In the extra moto I had the inside lane. I had a good start and pushed through, but Corey Stafford got the lead. I was in 2nd in and out of the first corner. I got a good second and third straight and went for a pass down the fourth straight rhythm section. I couldn’t get him and went into the last corner in 2nd. I had a good last straight but couldn’t get the win. I finished 2nd.

I finished 2nd overall.

I had great fun in Casino, racing both A pro and age. It was good racing older guys and thinking about getting past them. It was a good weekend.