Cornering at Mission Raceway Park

For the second year in a row, I rode my Triumph out to Mission Raceway Park, about 75 minutes from Burnaby, to sit in the bleachers under the hot afternoon sun for almost three hours, eat a burger and fries from a mom & pop chip wagon, and watch some of the most exciting motorcycle racing anywhere for a mere five bucks. If you arrive by car, it's ten bucks. 

We arrived around 1pm, just in time to watch the Twins race 10 laps, followed by Open Supersport, Middleweight Superbike and the Formula Classic. The winner of the Supersport category on Saturday May 11,  2013 was Spero Benias.

Averaging speeds of just over 100 km an hour, he held the lead throughout and raced around the track like he was a part of it. Most impressive was the smooth rhythmic balancing act he displayed in cornering, consistent every time as if he owned each turn and had practiced them a thousand times.  It seemed apparent to me that more than any other rider attribute, it is a racer's cornering skills that determine his place, whether he wipes out, comes in last or crosses the finish line first. I watched in awe, full of wonder and respect, hoping it was not too late for an ounce of that skill and talent to fill my spirit and take hold of my bones to ride my own corners, to determine my place.