RACHEL GUTISH teammates had mechanicals . Totally heartbreaking , even though they weren ’ t my teammates .
Like motocross back home , there ’ s lots of waiting . So much , that I crawled under the van for a nap . My teammates and Meg also napped , except they were actually in the van . I woke up groggy , a tuft of grass in my hair and in a bad mood . Britney enjoyed my grouchiness after enduring my early-morningwide-awake enthusiasm all week . Still waiting , I resorted to my usual remedy and aimlessly wandered the pits . I watched our club riders and talked to all the WWT riders . I ate my last can of tuna . I would have played on my phone , except at some point earlier in the day I ’ d lost it , never to be seen again .
Finally , it was time . My goal was to avoid getting lapped by Brandy , who has a moto background . I ’ m lined up near her on the gate when I have a sudden realization . I ’ ve never done a gate start on a 350 . I shout “ what gear ?” over revving bikes . She looks at me like I ’ m an idiot and holds up two fingers .
It was worth asking though because I had a great start . A rider goes down . I swerve around and move to second .. Brandy ’ s leading and I desperately try to hang on her fender . I hold off a Spanish rider for two laps before getting out-jumped across a tabletop . I hear another
VOL . 6 ISSUE 10 - OCTOBER 2021 // PAGE 105