DC and I going into the last corner, photo by Jimmy FlindtStanding at the starting line, rain trickling down my visor, I thought
to myself "What have you gotten yourself into?!" Before, I could
explore the thought, Kludy yelled "GO!" We were off; instantly
accelerated into the first corner. Mercado foot braked and waved me
back. I held out, then kicked down for just a second and went sliding
into the turn, narrowly dodging the potholes that lined the edges. I
was in Mercado's draft and we were hauling! As water and pebbles shot
up from his wheels and hit my visor, I hoped he would avoid the
cat-tracks. We didn't... Instead we charged right onto them. He was
violently rattled left and I to the right. DC crept up om me in the
following corner trying to pass on my outside. We were on a collision
course! I stood up and put my arm on his chest, pushing him away from
me. Our lines were screwed and we were completely off balance. We both
went through the corner standing, balanced on our tippy-toes we barely
squeaked through the right hander. Going into the last straight, I was
in second and too far away to catch Mercado's draft. I was a sitting
duck and I knew it. I could hear DC's wheels on the wet pavement
closing in on me, and it was too late. He passed me just yards before
the finish line. I was out, but I had survived Barrett Junction in the
rain.
We were all victorious that day. We couquered the hill and
we defeated the weather. 14 of the best riders in the U.S. came
together despite the rain to kick off the California Republic Stand-Up
Series Outlaw Races. It is going to be a good year!