Race day always hit me in the chest before anything else. I felt a huge amount of pressure while I was waking up that it felt like I wasn't able to stand up. I hated that nervous feeling, but at the same time, it made me feel alive.

I got to the racetrack earlier than everyone else. I thought the place was quiet since I went early and I was hoping to get some air in order to relax before continuing in it. But as soon as I rolled my bike out onto the track, it shattered.

The crowd saw me ...