BrettHunter

Standing 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!