P80
Feature
24 HOURS IN BOL d'OR BLENDER
I'm under clear instructions to just
go make sure the bike is okay so that
Jolanda can do her thing. I'm disap-
pointed because I know I can go
faster, and I feel like we are right back
to where we were before with "just
getting on the grid" being the goal.
But this is where we are.
Jolanda gets into the 2:01's and the
grid is set for race day. We are start-
ing 52nd of 56 teams. I'm bummed
because without the drama I know we
could've been 10 positions higher.
SATURDAY
—RACE DAY
After weeks of gorgeous weather,
France has decided that winter starts
today. It's absolutely pissing rain.
As the fastest qualifier on the
team, it'll be me that takes the
start. Like all EWC events, the
Bol d'Or kicks off with a Le
Mans-style start.
As I do my parade lap, I see
standing water at nearly every
turn on the track, and I can see
spray coming off the ground
itself with every gust of wind. I'm
standing across the track from
my motorcycle, rain pouring
on me, chuckling at the ver-
sion of myself who used to lay
in bed and dream of racing on
the world stage. This suddenly
seems very foolish.
Somehow, I survive the start
and settle in. I'll be honest with
you, I'm not great in the rain. But
I'm staying on two wheels and
that feels like a small victory with
the conditions. In the dry at Paul
Ricard, you can expect to run out
(Top) It's a tense day, but the girls are on the grid. (Bottom) Melissa
tip-toes her way around Paul Ricard. There's still a long way to go.
