SECOND CHANCE

EIGHT

Gianni Di Giannantonio's POV

Today was slowly but surely coming to an end and we all had the last chance to grab good positions on the starting grid. I knew exactly what my goal was today. Do my best in the qualifiers and get to the first or second row. I think every single rider of us had the same plan as me, so I knew I had to fight as hard as possible.

I was sitting in the pit, as was my brother in the pit next to me, chatting with the strategist and we tried to perfect everything to give me the best possible chance. Yes, the bike can be powerful, but the biggest part of this sport is the rider. So we could get the bike set up to perfection, but the only thing that could win the race was me, as the rider. The Moto3 qualification followed by Moto2, where Fermín rode, was the first. I wanted to go and have a look, but I had enough of my own problems to adjust the bike according to the circuit and according to myself. But when Augusto came running after me with a smile on his face, I stood up.

"Fermín, he's on pole position, come on" he said to me with a smile, it was clear that he was as proud of him as I was at this moment.

He held out his hand to me, which I accepted, and together we went to the parc ferme, which was few meters from my box, where Fermín was due to arrive at any moment. We climbed up behind the railing, opposite the place for the first rider. We had been waiting for about two minutes when we saw number 54 coming into its seat. Fermín got off his motorbike and it was obvious that he was looking for us in the crowd of people who were standing behind the railing just like us. When he noticed us, he immediately walked towards us. He was the first to hug me.

"I'm proud of you little" I heard Fermín laugh

"I know, thanks for being here"

"And I'll be here every race" after that I let him go and he immediately hugged Augusto, who looked like a big proud brother

"I'm proud of you mate, tomorrow's race is yours" Augusto pulled away from him and Fermín took off his helmet, which he placed on the motorbike and returned back to us

"Thank you for being here, it means a lot to me" I hugged him once more and Augusto then hugged us both at once

"You will not get rid of us, we will always be here with you" said Augusto and I just nodded slightly

Then Fermín went to give an interview, Augusto and I were still standing there, but we knew that the guys who are in Q1 were getting ready for the track and that in a few moments it would be waiting for us too. After his interview, Augusto and I went side by side back through the pit lane to our pits.

"I'm feeling like his dad" Augusto laughed and I with him

"You're like his dad" I snapped at him and we were still laughing

As we approached my box, I wanted to break into it, but Augusto grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him. I stood not far from him and looked up into his eyes. I had a strange feeling, it was the feeling I experienced when I started falling in love with Jules. I had this feeling for the first time since 2014, I've passed a lot of guys, but I haven't been as close as I was with August since Jules left. I waited for what he would say, but I still didn't break eye contact.

"Hey, I know you'll do the qualifying perfectly, I can see you're nervous, but you don't have to be, you're one of the best here on this grid, you have nothing to worry about, you'll do it" his hands were on my shoulders and I smiled at him

"Thank you for such a support, but if one of us can do it perfectly today, it will be you, right? Exactly what you told me also applies to you, don't stress at all and go as you can" I smiled at him and he nodded and looked at the shoes with a smile and then gave meone of his looks