Motorcycle Death Race 3000

The whine of the motor dropped in pitch as I slowed down into the corner. The crowds were cheering as the big screens showed replays of the last elimination. The rider in 7th position had had her decap collar remotely detonated as soon as soon as 6th position finished the last lap. We had started with 20 riders and each lap the last place was eliminated until only 3 would remain to take their positions on the podium. Of course as I was in 6th that meant I had my neck on the line next, only a lap to overtake or... I tried not to think about it.

I rounded another corner to see 4th and 5th place jostling for position, camera drones were also weaving in and out around them to capture the action. I felt my stomach knot up, passing even one of them would be difficult, both seemed impossible. I had to try though, I was gaining on them as their fight for 4th place took them off the racing line.

Through several more corners the battle continued with positions unchanged. I could sense the desperation of the riders ahead of me and was acutely aware of my own, would it lead to one of us making a mistake? A shower of metal and plastic erupted in the air ahead of us, not our mistake but two of the drone operators had managed to collide. The racers ahead of me swerved to avoid the debris, there was the briefest of contact between them but it was enough, 4th places back wheel kicked out firing her into the hard wall at the top of the corner almost certainly killing her instantly, meanwhile 5th place was sent sliding along the ground into a gravel pit with her bike, she survived long enough to get up and kick the remain of her vehicle in frustration before her collar activated and her head and body dropped to the ground.

With the corner ahead of me strewn with bits of bike, drone and oil the safe path would have been to take the corner wide, but the slower safer path would just be death by increments. I held the racing line and rode through the carnage. With two riders down I had some time to catch up to 3rd place.

A few more lonely corners and I could see 3rd place ahead of me, we were back approaching the accident spot and she went wide to avoid the debris, I stuck to my line again and closed the gap. I was now right behind her but she was now well aware of my presence and was blocking any attempt at passing her. I could sense the anticipation of the crowd, they were eager to see another racer lose her head.

We were back at the debris strewn corner, my competitor again went wide to avoid the danger, i sensed my chance and risked the inside line again. I held my breath as my front wheel passed a piece of jagged scrap by a fraction of an inch. As we exited the corner we must have been neck and neck, I didn't dare look, the slightest bit of extra drag could lose me the race and my head.

We thundered down the home straight together, the checkered flag ahead, white and black, win or lose, live or die.
The bike screaming between my legs, I passed the finish line and looked where my competitor was.

I slowly turned, saw road, then the front wheel of a bike, then the bikes headless rider, and then the sky, road, sky, road, sky, road. As my head hit the black asphalt the big screens started replaying my death for the crowd.