Free Scrambled by Huw Davies Page A

clearly overawed and were driving like old men on a Sunday afternoon. He could keep in sight of Lyndon and take him on the last lap, when whatever Dwayne had done to Lyndon’s bike would start to take effect.
    On lap two he decided to get closer to Lyndon, who was in the lead. He opened up the throttle to take the rider in second place. But whenever Davidde tried to pass him, he’d pull aggressively in front of him, causing him to brake and lose ground on Lyndon. It didn’t make any sense – why would someone try harder to stop Davidde than to win the race themselves, when the only prize was for the winner?
    The rider turned his head round momentarily. Davidde glimpsed the smirking face of Craig Jib. Now it made sense! Craig was there to stop Davidde from beating Lyndon, and it was working – it was almost the end of the second lap!
    Craig mouthed, ‘Like your mam!’ at Davidde and blew him a kiss.
    If Craig Jib had concentrated on racing rather than gloating, maybe Davidde would never have got past him. But he couldn’t help it – that was the type of person he was. Davidde seized his chance and eased himself through the chink of light Craig had left clear by taking his eye off the road in front.
    Now all that needed to happen was for Lyndon’s bike to start failing. Davidde wondered about what Dwayne had done. Would Lyndon go flying over the handlebars again? Would the handlebars come off in his hand? While he thought about this, he realised that he wasn’t gaining on Lyndon at all. He thought he should try and pass Lyndon rather than just wait for something to happen.
    He was just behind him, but Lyndon hugged the inside line, and Davidde didn’t seem to have the power to go the long way round. There werenow only three corners to go and Davidde was still in second. When would Lyndon’s bike break down?
    At the corner, Davidde thought he saw some room, but Lyndon closed the space down and Davidde was shut out again. Two corners to go!
    On the straight he was exactly level with Lyndon. Davidde tried not to get distracted, but he couldn’t help turning to look at Lyndon just for a moment. It was a good job he did, because Lyndon was reaching out for Davidde’s handlebars. He got hold of them and started wobbling, trying to throw Davidde from his bike.
    They went round the penultimate corner like that, with Lyndon shaking Davidde’s handlebars, and Davidde trying to keep himself steady and get Lyndon’s hand off his bike. Lyndon’s bike seemed to be losing power and Davidde realised that because Lyndon had grabbed hold of his bike, Davidde had the inside line for the final corner – all he had to do was stay on his bike and he would win!
    But Lyndon still had hold of his bike. On the final straight, Davidde tried to pull clear, but he was still tussling with Lyndon. The pair veered off towardsthe few trees on the course and Davidde ducked as he saw a low-hanging branch. Lyndon didn’t see it as he grappled with Davidde’s handlebars, but he felt it as he got it full in the helmet. His bike shot off without his weight and finished the race before Davidde, but it didn’t matter because Lyndon was lying under the trees, pounding the ground with his fists as Davidde finished the race and went on to do a lap of honour.
    Davidde felt like a hero for the first time in his life. There was clapping and cheering, and he was presented with fizzy pop on a white podium. The man from TV said he’d be in touch and his father was sobbing with joy.
    The Black Rider wheelied off up the mountain. It was all a bit of a blur.
    Davidde thought he’d better get his father home before he embarrassed himself any further.

7
    It was Monday morning assembly. The Head was on stage. The curtains were drawn behind him. There was a sense of anticipation in the audience.
    ‘Now then, boys and girls, we’ve got a very special assembly this morning. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, how will he humiliate himself this