But consider the possibility that the way that race played out changed something in his mind: Jakob was confident, but now he actually does realize that Kerr was more than “just the next guy”, but rather one of the very few faster anaerobic guys that can take him down if he is forced to be the pacesetter without pace lights.
I think the way Kerr won was a greater display of strength than Wightman’s WC race. Wightman jumped quick enough at the opportune time, to get just a bit of separation at the beginning of the turn, so that he could then run on the rail and control the race from there. This time, Jakob was quite anticipating that, and unloaded when Kerr came around, so that Kerr has to run outside the whole turn. It was mano-mano, chips-all-in, and Kerr crushed him.
But consider the possibility that the way that race played out changed something in his mind: Jakob was confident, but now he actually does realize that Kerr was more than “just the next guy”, but rather one of the very few faster anaerobic guys that can take him down if he is forced to be the pacesetter without pace lights.
I think the way Kerr won was a greater display of strength than Wightman’s WC race. Wightman jumped quick enough at the opportune time, to get just a bit of separation at the beginning of the turn, so that he could then run on the rail and control the race from there. This time, Jakob was quite anticipating that, and unloaded when Kerr came around, so that Kerr has to run outside the whole turn. It was mano-mano, chips-all-in, and Kerr crushed him.
Yeah, Jakob said it himself, that he felt that he was the best last WC, but this time the best man in the race won.