Akane knew what the pilot had done. He had engaged a boost, then sent a
power surge through the electromagnetic field generators to push the Moto
off the ground.
	[Holy shit,] Ranma's voice whispered in astonishment. Kasumi echoed his
shocked sentiment, though in a more G-rated fashion. [He's gotta be nuts!]
	[If it works, however,] Kasumi stated, [it would shave several seconds off
his time.]

	Akane was halfway through the semi-circular bend, the water not quite
reaching the dirt surface, when the black Moto landed. Water sprayed outward
in all directions as it hit, the large Moto moving forward slowly as the
magnetic field struggled to keep it aloft. After few seconds, it launched
forward again, spraying muddy water in it's wake.
	"I do NOT believe this..." Akane said as she thumbed another boost. 
	[He really made it,] Ranma said. [I'll be damned.]
	"I saw, Ranma," Akane said irritably. Her Moto would NEVER have survived a
bonehead stunt like that, and her own chances of surviving it weren't much
better. If that was a custom-made Moto, which the Kagawa Circuit allowed,
the whoever built it did a hell of a job. If it was a prototype for a new
line of Moto, however, then the team would be in SERIOUS trouble.
	Pushing those thoughts out of her mind, Akane guided ther Moto through the
curve, desperately pursuing the mysterious black Moto. Whoever the pilot
was, he had gained a significant lead but Akane would not just go quietly
into that good night. If he wanted first place that badly, he would have to
earn it.

=======================

	"DAMN!" Akane shouted as she dis-mounted her Moto. The platform descended
to the floor of the Moto Stall. "I LOST!"
	"Don't feel bad, Akane-chan," Kasumi said, using the suffix she had
traditionally used when her youngest sister was feeling down, "Second place
isn't all that bad."
	"I didn't win!" Akane shouted, flinging her helmet across the room.
	"Hey, Akane," Ranma said, "You netted us a hundred-thousand yen! You didn't
do bad!"
	"Leave me alone!" She shouted. The platform finished its descent in time
for Akane to dismount fully and storm off.
	"I'm tellin' ya," Ranma said to Kasumi as Akane stormed off, "I do NOT
understand that girl."
	"Don't worry, Ranma," Kasumi said, "I'll talk to her. I think I may know
what's bothering her."

============================