Stuart Russel, Red Square Kawasaki Masters, Red Square Reload

Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters:
Stuart Russel #83

—Rider of the Day—CONGRATULATIONS! This is how you give it Gas.
—BMSC East London.

Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters

—LTR: JB Schoeman, Gerald Van Heerden, Pieter De Vos, Chris Marais, Sid Farinha, Rodney McLachlan, Johan Le Roux, Stuart Russel, and Manager Johan Fourie.

—Picture(s): Chris Marais - MEPS Electic Fencing / MEPS Pipes.

Masters Reload(ing)

—BERiK, Arlen Ness, BERiK.
—Rodney, Sid, Raymond.

RED SQUARE STARTING GRID LINE UP:

Pieter De Vos, Graeme van Breda, Kyle Robinson, Tony Klem, Stuart Russel, André Denoon, Raymond Keel, Jaco Gous, Hennie du Plessis, Sid Farinha, Hannes De Vos, Michael Smit, Abrie Marais, Hano Van Der Merwe, Henk Schuiling, Mike McSkimming, JB Schoeman, Chris Marais, Ian Harwood, Jason Joshua.

Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters: I set the controls

It is late Wednesday afternoon, when somebody knocks on the front door. Normally I’m quick to answer, not today. Lethargic in every step, by the time I reach the door there were nobody, just a dull wrapped package on the floor marked for my attention. The first thing that comes to mind: who dropped it here, and how did he get in? And, have I ordered anything? Can’t remember. Sometimes that happens: the forgetting part. Do you agree?

I place my Red Square Reload on the kitchen table, next to it the package. I reach for the kitchen-cupboard-drawer and lift a pair of scissors. With the pair in my right hand I slowly cut the box-straps, then the Sellotape on top. Carefully I open the box, curious as George, gently lifting the strange device out of its housing; placing it carefully on the kitchen table to remove the plastic wrap. What could this be? Finally when every piece of packaging was on the floor, I had time to investigate this "thing" ...
In the same breath I try to think when I ordered this. It was like starring into the black hole ... nothing ... (The best part thou: it comes with a three-point-plug.)

Friday morning:
So out of character: I place an A4 exam pad and pencil on the kitchen table, writing the following numbers down: 41, 18, 13, 17, 83, and 58; then again: 41, 17, 18, 13, 83, 43, then I stopped.
(For the ill-informed, these are the numbers of the top runners of the Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters Cup: Graeme Van Breda #41, Kyle Robinson #18, Tony Klem #13, Pieter "the Terrier" De Vos #17, Stuart Russel #83, André Denoon #58 and 43, Jaco Gous.)
I stand up, walk over to the kitchen sink, filling a transparent vessel with cold water, then the milk canister up to where it reads: MAXIMUM; then I slide open the hatch on top, dropping a Capriccio pod in the opening, closing it, after which I press a large green illuminated circle ...
The aroma of strong coffee fills every vacant space. I sip slowly on my hot brew, two scoops of Demerara sugar gives it even more body. In the quiet I think about my syntax of numbers. I read it out loud once more, before it catches a lift on the steam out of my cup, imploring that it would reach East London on time.

Saturday:
The bright morning sunlight flickers through the bedroom curtains like a strobe: on – off, on – off, waking me. Through the window I can see clouds moving rapidly before the face of the morning sun, creating this effect. Now that I’m fully awake, it is time for coffee to pull me through this mid-section of the morning; it is way too early for a Crabbie’s, or Carlsberg, or Red Square. Well, if you feel that it would settle you in the right place, then go for it—it’s Saturday! Even my dear Brother will agree with you.
My fridge is already fully stocked with all three (brands), waiting impatiently for the red lights to drop; I definitely don’t need a Boeing. The first set of red lights will go out at approximately 10 o’clock, the second, around ten-past-one ...

It is quarter-to-ten. I open the fridge door hurriedly, lifting a few cold ones from the shelf, placing the Red Squares in a large bright orange ice-bucket. In that same moment I think of the orange colour scheme Tony’s superbike is painted; how the bright orange engulfs his black "lucky" number thirteen. So pronounced on the racetrack, hoping that he will have a great one ...
I slap the fridge closed, it is almost time ...

I settle myself on the couch, trying to decrease the paper that I wrote the numbers on; eventually I met with some success. For a moment it is absolutely quiet, as if the next thing I’m gonna hear is THUNDER, I listen carefully, nothing, just Pssst, as I neck the first Red Square.
According to my calculations: 10 laps at about 01:25 per lap, the Red Square Kawasaki ZX10R Masters should be finished (with their first race meeting) by quarter-past-10, so too, my first cold one. With my (smart) phone I view the results online: 41, 18, 13, 17, 83, 58; it corresponds with the numbers on the wrinkled paper. I was gobsmacked for a moment, but was expecting this outcome—I’ve set the controls ... for the Karma Machine.
Race two yielded the same results: 41, 17, 18, 13, 83, and 43.

Other great news: Stuart Russel was crowned—Rider of the Day. CONGRATULATIONS to a great Master. This I did not expect, or predict, or set. (And to my dear Readers: unfortunately I cannot take any requests.)

For those of strong character and patience, it will still be a while before the greater motorcycle racing population can view THIS animated Red Square Kawasaki series on 2Wheels television (SS8/208). Until that time—keep calm and carry on!

We all have these "Karma Machines" in our homes (or at the office). (Let me rather not mention the stove or kitchen-sink, this will definitely ruin things for us.)
You open the fridge door and forth comes all these great aromas and colours, pleasant food on display, ice cold drinks, surely to stimulate the brain in just the right place, sowing the right kind of karmic seeds; you make a great cup of coffee and good thoughts escapes you mind entering the world without any resistance, releasing it into a sphere that needs it dearly.

In the quiet of a very late Saturday afternoon, I reminisce on a great day; I reminisce on the day I made the coffee, sending my results, my good thoughts, into a congested world. I load another colour into the Nespresso. This time there is no paper or pencil on the table, just my thoughts and —Silence (featuring Sarah McLachlan), wishing that all Red Square Masters will return home safely, to their families. —Godspeed! •