Chapter 052: Speed and Passion
Zhou Mengyao herself was very surprised that she would choose to unconditionally trust Lin Lang, betting her professional racing career on it.
If Zhou Mengyao, in this Asia Women's Motorcycle Grand Prix, were to lose the race by using wet tires on a dry track because she listened to Lin Lang and it didn't rain, she would become the laughingstock of the motorcycle racing world.
When wet tires are used on a dry track, the increased friction reduces the vehicle's speed by at least 5%, which is a nightmare for professional racers aiming for the championship.
If there isn't a torrential downpour during the race, it means the championship will be handed over to someone else, and she might not even make it into the top ten.
Compared to dry tires, wet tires have a very different structure, with a softer compound on the tire surface.
The surface of wet tires has more grooves.
These grooves can drain water from the tire surface.
Wet tires can also drain water between the track surface and the road.
Let alone in the event of a torrential downpour.
Even in heavy rain, motorcycle racers using dry tires (also called slick tires) will not have enough grip, and the probability of skidding and crashing will greatly increase when cornering without reducing speed or leaning into turns.
In short, slick tires do not have drainage grooves, making them fast on dry tracks, but they are prone to slipping and crashing when cornering or braking in wet conditions.
Although there have been rare instances in the international racing world where famous male racers achieved legendary status by using slick tires in the rain, such moments are exceedingly rare.
Wet tires are further divided into intermediate wet tires and full wet tires.
Intermediate wet tires might be barely usable for racing when it's not raining, but Zhou Mengyao's Suzuki sportbike was fitted with full wet tires, which have astonishing water displacement capabilities.
If a torrential downpour truly occurs during the race, then Zhou Mengyao, riding her full wet tire Suzuki sportbike, will see her chances of winning the championship directly double.
1 minute and 05 seconds before the official start of the race, Zhou Mengyao's racing team's technical staff, with their highly professional teamwork, adjusted Zhou Mengyao's Suzuki sportbike to an invincible wet-weather racing state.
"nice!"
Wearing a cool racing suit, Zhou Mengyao put on her professional racing helmet, got on her Suzuki sportbike in its invincible wet-weather racing state, and with a heroic flourish, twisted the throttle twice, emitting an exciting motorcycle roar.
"Vroom..."
"Vroom vroom..."
The Mengyao Racing Team members shouted in unison: "Go, BOSS! Win the championship! Win the championship! Win the championship!"
"OK!" The sweet and cool Motorcycle Goddess Zhou Mengyao raised two fingers of her right hand, saluting the team's technical members.
Immediately after, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhou Mengyao casually pulled down her helmet visor, rode her wet tire Suzuki warhorse to the fourth pole starting position, and was ready for the official race.
The female racers from various Asian countries on the track were all shocked by Zhou Mengyao's audacious move.
"What?!"
"Using wet tires in clear weather? Is the female racer from Xia Country crazy?"
"Oh my god!"
"The weather forecast doesn't even show rain. Why is the female racer from Xia Country using wet tires for a race on a dry track? Does she not want to win?"
The Singaporean female racer thought to herself, "Zhou Mengyao is from Shanghai. Did her brain collapse?"
Among all the top female racers from Asia participating in the race, only Zhou Mengyao's Suzuki warhorse used wet tires, and her racing mode was also wet-weather mode, leaving the female racers from other Asian countries stunned.
The commentator at the race venue also clearly saw Zhou Mengyao's Suzuki warhorse using wet tires on the big screen, as the live broadcast cameraman gave a close-up shot.
AI Zhou Mengyao Beauty Picture
The male commentator at the scene exclaimed in surprise: "Oh my goodness!"
"I can't believe my eyes! Xia Country's contestant Zhou Mengyao actually changed to full wet tires for her Suzuki race car in clear weather. Is it going to rain heavily during the race today?"
The female commentator at the scene replied in astonishment: "The weather forecast for Shanghai today says no rain!"
"It's clear and sunny at the race venue right now, and the race starts in less than a minute. How could it possibly rain heavily?"
The male commentator at the scene asked in confusion: "Could it be a major error by Zhou Mengyao's team, that they changed the wrong tires before the race?"
The female commentator replied: "Absolutely impossible!"
"In such an important event, the staff of Zhou Mengyao's team would not make such a basic mistake."
Tens of thousands of spectators at the venue were equally shocked to hear that Zhou Mengyao was using wet tires in clear weather.
"Whoa..."
The huge open-air stadium immediately erupted in an uproar, with spectators discussing animatedly, all utterly astonished.
"No way?"
"What kind of divine maneuver is this from Zhou Mengyao?"
"It's a beautiful day, clear skies, and the race is about to start. How could it possibly rain?"
"Yeah!"
"I was really hoping Motorcycle Goddess Zhou Mengyao would win the championship! It'd be a miracle if she could win with wet tires on a dry track."
"The Shanghai Asian Women's Motorcycle Championship is Motorcycle Goddess Zhou Mengyao's home turf!"
"Half the stadium's spectators are local Shanghai people. Everyone came to support Zhou Mengyao, not to see her use wet tires on a dry track and lose the race because of it."
"Exactly!"
"Asano Mone, the female racer from Little Japan, is the top-ranked female racer in Asia. She's already very strong. Even if Zhou Mengyao used slick tires, she wouldn't be guaranteed to win the championship, let alone using wet tires on a dry track."
"It seems Zhou Mengyao is very likely to lose this race today!"
"Strange things happen every year, but this year especially so."
"Didn't Zhou Mengyao say in an interview with a motorcycle magazine that she really wanted to beat the female racer from Little Japan? Why is she still using wet tires in clear weather, intentionally throwing the race?!"
"Sigh~"
"Who knows what's gotten into Zhou Mengyao..."
The eyes of tens of thousands of spectators at the venue were all focused on the track.
All the female motorcycle racers from various Asian countries were ready, gazing at the track ahead, twisting their throttles on their sportbikes, exuding an aura of 'who else but me,' a hot-blooded, high-speed sensation.
Rows of dazzling motorcycles were neatly aligned, and on each motorcycle sat a cool female racer, dressed in a tight racing suit. They came from various Asian countries, with different skin colors, but all shared the same desire to win.
The starting gun fired.
The female racers from various Asian countries twisted their throttles almost simultaneously, and the roaring engine sounds were like war drums, stirring the hearts of every spectator present.
"Vroom..."
"Vroom vroom vroom..."
The sweet and cool Motorcycle Goddess Zhou Mengyao, riding her wet tire Suzuki warhorse, shot out like a cannonball.
"Vroom..."
The other female racers, equally heroic in their swift movements, skillfully controlled their sportbikes. Every turn, every acceleration, showcased the female racers' extremely high level of professional competitive skill.
Motorcycle Goddess Zhou Mengyao calmly drove her Suzuki warhorse, weaving through the dense traffic, flexibly overtaking one race car after another, her driving skills extremely proficient and exquisite.
The wind howled past Zhou Mengyao's ears.
The intertwined roars of dozens of racing cars sent Zhou Mengyao's adrenaline soaring. Her gaze remained firm, fixed on the front.
Every acceleration and every turn by Zhou Mengyao was perfectly executed, like a series of moving paintings, showcasing the female racer's tenacity and bravery.
At this moment, Zhou Mengyao was single-minded, only wanting to win, with only one thought in her mind: to win the championship.
What is called speed and passion?
This is speed and passion!
Zhou Mengyao is not only a professional female racer but also a female war god who challenges herself and pursues ultimate speed.
Every lean into a turn, every overtake, was poetic.
Zhou Mengyao's incredibly graceful figure on the Suzuki warhorse captivated the audience, like a flower blooming at high speed, looking absolutely cool.
Tens of thousands of spectators at the venue followed Zhou Mengyao's figure with their eyes, all filled with anticipation and tension. That feeling of surging adrenaline could only be experienced by watching a live motorcycle race.
The fans and spectators at the venue were all holding their breath for Zhou Mengyao.
Although Zhou Mengyao's racing skills were exceptional, the weakness of wet tires in a dry track race quickly became apparent.
No matter how much Zhou Mengyao twisted the throttle to accelerate, or perfectly leaned her body into S-shaped curves, she consistently remained around the tenth position, unable to catch up to the top female racers ahead who were using slick tires.
The race had just begun, and Zhou Mengyao, the top-ranked female racer from Xia Country, was already at a disadvantage in the Asian Grand Prix.
Those spectators with patriotic sentiments, who supported Zhou Mengyao out of national pride, all frowned and clenched their fists, silently cheering for Motorcycle Goddess Zhou Mengyao in their hearts.
The male commentator at the scene said: "Currently leading the race is Asano Mone, riding a Honda motorcycle. She is from Little Japan and is the top-ranked female racer in Asia."
The female commentator at the scene said: "Currently in second place is Kim Ji-na, riding a Yamaha motorcycle. She is from South Korea and is the third-ranked female racer in Asia."
"Temporarily in third place is Sheikh Nadi, riding a Kawasaki motorcycle. She is from distant Qatar and is the second-ranked female racer in Asia."
The male commentator at the scene continued: "Asia's fourth-ranked female racer, Vindia, is absent from this event due to injury."
"Xia Country's fifth-ranked female racer, Zhou Mengyao, is currently in twelfth place. It seems that using wet tires in a dry track race is preventing her from performing at her true level in this race."
The female commentator at the scene said: "When wet tires are used on a dry track, the increased friction significantly reduces the vehicle's speed. Zhou Mengyao's speed has consistently been low, making it incredibly difficult to overtake on turns."
The male commentator at the scene said: "Zhou Mengyao, competing on her home turf in Shanghai, originally had a chance to win this Grand Prix, or at least finish in the top three."
"At her current speed, with wet tires in clear weather, Zhou Mengyao might not even be able to secure a top ten finish."