I’m the Only Bike Queen

Chapter 4

By then, I was already a full forty seconds behind the leading group.

Everyone had assumed I had withdrawn from the race.

Even the live commentators had begun expressing their regret.

"We've just received an update from the track. Three-time motorcycle racing queen Sophie suffered a serious accident at Soulreaper. Both she and her bike crashed into the gravel trap, and she has sustained a severe shoulder injury."

The other commentator sighed as well.

"What a shame. Normally, an experienced rider like Sophie shouldn't make a mistake like this. She had been the overwhelming favorite to win this year. Everyone thought she would continue setting new records. Unfortunately, now..."

Soon, they shifted the discussion to Claire.

"But judging by the current situation on the track, Claire, who has narrowly missed the championship three years in a row, is now leading the entire field."

Both commentators thought my race was already over.

But I was still on the track.

The pain in my right shoulder was so severe I was nearly losing consciousness.

I could only bite down hard on my lip and force myself to stay awake.

I had already bitten through the skin, and the metallic taste of blood mixed with sweat in my mouth.

My right arm could no longer move normally.

So I had to perform every operation with my left hand.

Shift with my left hand.

Push the handlebar with my left hand.

To prevent my right arm from being injured again by the inertia at high speed, I even bit down on my sleeve with my teeth, pinning my right arm beside the frame.

Now, I could only rely on my left hand to keep racing.

The thick fog over the sea was slowly beginning to lift.

The track ahead finally became clear again.

But every drone covering the race had already gone to follow the leading riders.

Not a single camera was still focused on me.

No one knew I had returned to the race.

Once my vision cleared, I opened the throttle again.

When I couldn't see anything earlier, I had still been able to judge the track by memory alone.

Now that I could finally see ahead again, I had even less need for anyone to tell me the route.

Adrian.

The truth was, I had stopped needing you a long time ago.

After two consecutive S-bends ahead came the final straightaway.

Just then, the live commentator suddenly raised his voice.

"A rider has entered the final sprint straight! Blue bike! It's Number Three, Claire! Here she comes!"

A red banner had already been hung beside the finish line.

Adrian stood there waiting, holding a huge bouquet of champagne roses.

When the reporters saw him, they immediately rushed over with their cameras.

"Ladies and gentlemen! It's Adrian!"

"Gold-medal navigator Adrian is standing beside the finish line! What exactly is he planning?"

A reporter shoved a microphone directly in front of Adrian.

Adrian smiled calmly.

It looked as though he had prepared all of this long ago.

He said evenly, "My queen has worked hard. I prepared a surprise to congratulate her on winning the championship."

The reporter froze for a moment.

"But Sophie has already been injured and withdrawn from the race. The queen you're talking about can't possibly be..."

Adrian shook his head, his smile becoming even more obvious.

"Only the queen of motorcycle racing deserves what I've prepared. I've waited three years for this day. Just keep watching and you'll find out."

The live camera immediately cut to the red banner.

When they saw the words written across it, even the commentators became excited.

"'To My Queen, Claire'?! Is Adrian planning to propose to Claire in public?"

Just then, a red motorcycle suddenly shot into the final straight.

The commentator's voice changed instantly.

"What?! Ladies and gentlemen, are you seeing this? Another red motorcycle has entered the sprint zone! It's kicking up too much dust for me to see the number right now! But Claire has already entered the final three-hundred-meter full-throttle sprint!"

I lowered my body as close to the fuel tank as possible to reduce wind resistance at high speed.

With my left hand, I twisted the throttle all the way open.

I had overtaken six riders in succession through the final two S-bends.

Now Claire's blue motorcycle was right in front of me.

Less than three bike lengths separated us.

I could already see the finish line.

And the checkered flag waving ahead.

Just a little faster.

Even if it was only a fraction faster.

The officials near the finish line held their breath, staring intently at the timing equipment.

The blue and red motorcycles charged toward the line almost side by side.

And beside the finish line, Adrian had already dropped to one knee.

He was still holding the roses.

He was obviously waiting for Claire to cross the finish line and run straight into his arms.

He wanted everyone to witness that moment.

But the instant he saw the red motorcycle appear, he froze.

He clearly hadn't expected me to come back.

I gripped the left handlebar as tightly as I could.

Claire's blue motorcycle was about to cross the finish line.

At the very last moment, I downshifted again and opened the throttle.

My motorcycle surged past her from the side.

Bang!

The two bikes crossed the finish line almost at the exact same moment!

The live commentator shot straight up from his chair.

"I can see it now! The red motorcycle is Number Seven, Sophie! I knew she would never give up that easily!"

The other commentator shouted excitedly as well.

"That was incredibly close! Ladies and gentlemen, let's go straight to the high-speed replay! The final champion of this year's MotoGP is..."