To fly you only need two wheels

limits

*Kariss*

My heart had been hammering since Marc drove out of the garage. We had gone over the strategy and the route again and again. Whether it helped him?

We had been sitting in his trailer for hours. Every corner, every bump, every lap. We had talked through everything and in my head I went through the whole thing again and again, but I also suffered with him since the beginning of the race. What if MY tactics didn't work out. I held my head out for it, even though I somehow didn't have the feeling that it was really about my head, because I had noticed that Marc liked me quite a bit up to now. Still, of course I wanted to give him the best tactics for his race. I wanted to prove myself. Had to prove myself. Because even though this team was behind me, there were still enough people who didn't take me seriously because I was a woman. And I wanted to prove myself. Not just for me, but for all the other women out there. I wanted to maybe make the road a little easier for them.

The start had been much better this time. Marc hadn't let himself get caught up right away. He was still struggling hard, but that was because of the bike and not him. Marc went with the bike again beyond the limits. His own and that of the bike.

He was really brilliant.

I could have watched him ride forever, even though I was drenched in sweat by now. I was sure I had never been so tense in my life.

Five more laps.

I watched the readings that were incessantly reported by the gauges.

Four more laps.

I followed his every move, every little tilt, every little twitch.

Three more laps.

Pecco was catching up a little. He was getting closer

Two more laps.

Pecco once again seemed to get everything out of his Ducati and came damn close. Marc also went full risk. More than discussed. My heart started beating even faster. I prayed that the tires would hold out.

One more lap.

Oh God, I was starting to feel sick. The tires just had to hold on for the last lap. They just had to. Then he would win this race. It had already been great that he had won the sprint yesterday, but this was something completely different.

It would be perfect if he could get this win before the three-week break. It would be a good foundation. Not only for our work. Also for Marc. I understood. He had been working towards this comeback for a long time. Again.

His injuries were in never small because he always wanted more. Always made more. He took the risk. Every time.

Even now, I watched him push the limits. The absolute limits. And then it was into the last turn and onto the start-finish line. Leo grabbed my hand and squeezed it so tightly that my fingers started to tingle.

But Marc shot across the finish line first. I took a breath. My heart raced, then the realization hit me. He had won. Marc had done it and won the race. Leo pulled me into his arms without warning "He did it." he gasped.

"He did it!", I gasped, dropping my forehead against his shoulder.

Leo started laughing, then tried to pull me along, I shook my head briefly. I nodded in Robert's direction. Leo nodded only briefly.

Marc would now anyway still drive his triumphant lap, until then I would surely make it to the podium. Robert already reached out his hand to me and pulled me to him.

"That was a good race from him. I'm sure he has you guys to thank for that too.", he pressed a kiss on the top of my head "I'm so proud of you!".

My heart skipped a beat "Thank you.", I smiled up at him.