"-and with one lap to go, it's still Rika Natsume,
winning comfortably here at the Tokyo Dockyards!"
Rika smiled confidently to herself as she crossed the
start/finish line to begin the final lap. With a significant advantage over her
nearest rival, victory was surely hers. She had already won the overall HoverGP
championship, and winning in her home city of Tokyo would be the icing on the
cake. But Rika had one more ambition still to achieve: to be a part of the
first-ever World Hoverboard Racing Championships.
After hoverboard technology finally reached the market in
the 2020s, it had not taken long for the first races to be held. In 2028, a
group of Japanese hoverboard enthusiasts had founded HoverGP, the world's first
hoverboard racing tournament, held entirely in Japan. The year was now 2040,
and hoverboard races were being held across the globe. Most took place in
closed-off urban areas, such as the dockyard Rika was racing in currently, but
some took place at existing motor racing circuits or even purpose-built
facilities: Niigata boasted the world's first purpose-built hoverboard racing
circuit, completed in 2036.
The International Hoverboard Racing Federation had been
founded several years prior as a worldwide governing body, and had standardized
many of the sport's rules. Now, it had organized the creation of the WHRC as
the world's premier hoverboard racing tournament, and the first-ever edition was
set to begin in early 2041. Having won one of the world's most prestigious
tournaments, Rika was confident that she would secure a place at one of the
competing teams, but with only 20 places open, and several already taken,
competition was going to be fierce. Still, winning this race would certainly
help her chances.
[AUTHOR'S NOTE: You can find the full track route here: http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/fullscreen/769741849/)
The start/finish straight ran along the main road
adjacent to the dockyard, before a right-hand turn brought the riders through
the dockyard entrance. A subtle right-hand kink followed, then another
ninety-degree right-hander. To her left, Rika could now see thousands and
thousands of shipping containers gathered on the dock, ready to be loaded or
unloaded. The dockyard authorities had collaborated with the race organizers in
order to disturb the busy dock as little as possible, while still allowing the
race to go ahead; certain areas had been kept clear of containers in order to
provide spectator areas, refreshments, or marshal posts. The building on the
left side of the main road, opposite the dock, had been turned into a makeshift
pit lane and paddock, housing the mechanics and engineers, and in a few
minutes' time it would hold the podium ceremony.
The straight Rika was currently on was a dead end,
bounded by a fence, but a section of the left-hand fence had been cut out,
creating a chicane that had proven tricky for some of the less experienced
riders to navigate. Rika, however, had no problem with it, nor with the second
chicane that followed almost immediately afterwards. As a backmarker moved to
the left to let her through, Rika accelerated between the rows of shipping
containers before sweeping round a fast left-hander.
At this point, the dockyard was divided into two by a
thin bank of trees and bushes. A temporary curved ramp had been constructed
that turned the riders ninety degrees and up and over the bank, and Rika leaned
hard into the corner as she took it, sweeping through it and exiting onto
another straight lined by shipping containers. This one went to the very edge
of the dockyard, at which point Rika took a right, then a more sweeping right,
then a left, cutting through a small car park on the inside.
The last section of the track was somewhat technical,
though the width of the track made it easier than it might otherwise have been.
There were also a lot of temporary grandstands erected here for spectators, and
their cheers spurred Rika on to finish. Another right-hand turn, then another
left, then another right. A sweeping right-hand turn pointed her in the
direction of the dockyard exit, and she turned right out of it and back onto
the main road. Just before the final corner was the start of a grass verge that
separated the two halves of the road; a tire barrier forced Rika into the
right-hand lane, as this was the only one from which the first turn could be
accessed.
Rounding the final left-hand turn, Rika took the time to
wave to the spectators in the grandstands as she passed the chequered flag to
take a comfortable victory. She had won the HoverGP series by a significant
points margin, and as she slowed down to take her victory lap, she felt the
familiar sense of accomplishment rush through her body, giving her a warm, fuzzy
feeling inside. She loved that winning feeling. It was partly what drove her to
race: she loved how racing made her feel, and she loved how winning made her
feel even more.
Rika's race engineer Kimiko soon chimed in on the radio. "Congratulations,
Rika," she said, "nice race. You did a really good job out
there."
"Thanks, Kimiko," said Rika, beaming proudly.
"You did a great job too, as always."
"Reckon you did enough?" asked Kimiko.
"Oh, I know I did," said Rika. "I gave it
everything I had out there. If I don't get signed, it's not my fault."
"Well, we'll see what happens," said Kimiko.
"Alright, bring her back home and let's get this party started."
Rika nodded and continued on her parade lap, waving
cheerfully to the fans as she passed them. This had been the last race of the
season, and Rika felt a little sad knowing that it was all over for the year.
However, she was confident that next year, she would have an even greater
contest to enjoy.
***
With Rika's team having also won the constructors'
championship, she and her mechanics had a lot to celebrate, and when she arrived
in the garage after the podium ceremony, the celebrations had already begun.
Glasses of champagne were being handed around, and Rika quickly had one thrust
at her. "Here," said Kimiko, handing over a glass. "One for the
champ."
"But I'm underage!" pointed out Rika. The
drinking age in Japan was still 21, and Rika was only eighteen.
"It's fine," said Kimiko, waving Rika's worries
aside. "One glass won't hurt."
"Well… if you insist…" Rika took a tentative
sip, then gave a nod of approval. "Mmm… not bad," she said.
"So, what's next?" asked Kimiko. "I know
you're shooting for the WHRC, but… are you just gonna court the various teams
and hope for the best?"
"Pretty much, yeah," said Rika. "Gonna
have to court some sponsors as well, probably… ugh." Rika was unable to
hide her contempt at the thought of having to schmooze the various corporations
just so she could afford to race. "Having to fulfil sponsor obligations is
boring. I just wanna race."
"If you hired an agent or something, they could take
care of all the boring stuff for you," suggested Kimiko.
Rika clicked her fingers. "Of course!" she
exclaimed. "Why didn't I think of that!"
At this point, the pair were interrupted by an unfamiliar
voice. "Excuse me? You're Rika Natsume, right?"
Rika turned round to see an older man standing there in a
sharp business suit. He looked vaguely familiar, but she couldn't tell why.
"That's me," she said.
"Allow me to introduce myself," said the man.
"My name is Akihiko Karasuma. I'm the team principal of the Kasaiki WHRC
team."
Rika immediately realized where she knew the name from,
and her eyes lit up with excitement. Kasaiki were one of the market leaders
when it came to hoverboard technology, and Akihiko Karasuma had been one of
their most prominent technicians prior to being appointed the head of their
WHRC effort. They were thus considered one of the front-runners for the
inaugural season. There was only one possible reason why such a man could be
visiting her at the team garage.
"I'll cut straight to the chase, Miss Natsume,"
continued Akihiko. "We've been very impressed by your performances this
season, and we want you to race for us in the WHRC next year."
Rika almost couldn't believe her ears, or her luck.
"M-me?! Race in the WHRC?! For Kasaiki?!!" she repeated, dumbstruck.
Akihiko nodded, amused. "Yes, that's what I just
said. I take it from your expression that you're interested?"
Rika nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!" she
exclaimed. "It would be such an honour to ride you, sir! I mean, ride for you! Ehh…" She blushed bright
red, flustered by her accidental misspeak.
Akihiko gave her a warm smile. "Well then," he
said, "why don't you head down to our head office in Kobe sometime so we
can discuss this more formally? Maybe, next Saturday?"
"Sure," said Rika. "Now that the season's
over, I'll be free for the next few months, pretty much."
"I hope you'll keep training over the winter,
though," said Akihiko. "It'd be a shame if you started the season all
rusty and out-of-shape."
"Oh, of course!" said Rika. "When I said
"free", I meant "free to do whatever I want", and that
includes training, obviously."
Kimiko felt like adding in her own endorsement. "She
really loves being on that hoverboard," she said. "Some days we just
can't get her off it."
"I see," said Akihiko. "Well, in that
case, I wish you good luck with your training, and I'll see you next Saturday.
With any luck, we'll have the deal signed in plenty of time."
"I sure hope so," said Rika, her excitement
barely contained.
"Well, I'll see myself out," said Akihiko.
"Good night, Miss Natsume. Oh, and congratulations on winning the HoverGP championship,"
he added, as he turned to leave.
"Thank you," said Rika. With that, Akihiko
waved goodbye and left the pit garage. The moment he was out of sight, Rika let
out a loud squeal of excitement. "Did you hear that?!" she said to
Kimiko. "I'm gonna be a WHRC driver! This is everything I've been racing
for this past year!"
"I know!" said Kimiko, who also seemed excited.
"It's amazing! I'm so proud of you, Rika!"
"And it's Kasaiki as well!" said Rika.
"With their hoverboard underneath me, I could even shoot for the championship!"
"I'll be cheering you on all the way," said
Kimiko. "Now, how about we toast to celebrate?"
"Sure!" said Rika. "Cheers!"
"Cheers!" said Kimiko, and the two clinked
their glasses together before taking a hearty swig of champagne.
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