Lin Yan's unique cornering method was indeed difficult to counter, and Sun Tianhe wished he could emulate it, but he lacked Lin Yan's superior racing skills.
He also used racing techniques to navigate corners. In theory, the two sports were interconnected, but achieving mastery in both was nearly impossible, unless one was a prodigy like Lin Yan, capable of excelling in both disciplines.
As he approached the final few corners, Sun Tianhe eased off the accelerator. Lin Yan's method was formidable, but it couldn't be applied to every corner. After years of practice, Sun Tianhe still had a few tricks up his sleeve.
The race concluded with Sun Tianhe crossing the finish line a car's length behind Lin Yan.
Sun Tianhe's guess was correct; Lin Yan's cornering technique couldn't be used on every turn. While it was effective when used occasionally, Lin Yan himself wasn't confident in its repeated application, as it carried a high risk of crashing.
No one present was surprised by Lin Yan's victory. Even in motocross, he was known as "Lin Shen," and it was unthinkable for him to lose to an unknown competitor.
The only one surprised was Xiao K. He knew that even if Sun Tianhe couldn't win, he should have been able to put up a better fight against Lin Yan, but he hadn't showcased his full capabilities.
However, Sun Tianhe's loss was perhaps for the best. While it might slightly dampen the hype, it prevented any potential offense.
Xiao K hadn't overheard their conversation on stage, unaware that Lin Yan had already agreed to help. Given that "Lin Shen" himself had offered assistance, Sun Tianhe, being socially astute, would naturally understand the implications. Furthermore, his trump cards might not have guaranteed a victory anyway.
Seeing Lin Yan win, Zhang Mingzhi's heart finally settled.
"Zhang, why do you always lack confidence in Lin?" Veneris asked Zhang Mingzhi from the side, his voice laced with a hint of teasing.
"What do you know! If he had lost, do you have any idea of the public outcry?" Zhang Mingzhi replied sternly. Veneris was responsible for coaching the drivers, while Zhang Mingzhi managed the team's overall operations, so Veneris didn't fully grasp the intricacies.
However, Zhang Mingzhi understood clearly that Sun Tianhe's intention was to leverage Lin Yan's popularity to expose past events. Sun Tianhe hadn't considered the broader implications, believing that defeating Lin Yan would amplify his own fame and ensure better coverage for the revelation.
But Zhang Mingzhi had a clearer and more thorough analysis. If Sun Tianhe had indeed won, the situation might have unfolded in the opposite direction of his expectations.
If Lin Yan lost this race, it would not only affect him but also diminish the credibility of Sun Tianhe's identity.
Imagine "Lin Shen," the celebrated racer, being defeated by an unknown in motocross. Subsequently, this unknown individual reveals his identity as a top motocross racer from over a decade ago. This would inevitably lead the public to question the authenticity of his claims, perhaps suspecting a fabricated narrative by the Lin family.
If public opinion turned against them, the evidence from over a decade ago would struggle to hold sway against the overwhelming force of public sentiment.
The finish line of the motocross track was located on a high slope, where Lin Yan and Sun Tianhe parked their vehicles at the summit.
"Why didn't you go all out later?" Lin Yan asked Sun Tianhe calmly after removing his helmet and dismounting from his bike.
It was improbable for someone who had dedicated their life to motocross to have no hidden skills, especially since their abilities weren't so vastly superior to Sun Tianhe's.
"I wasn't completely confident!" Sun Tianhe's reply was brief.
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan looked intently at Sun Tianhe, seemingly gauging the sincerity of his words.
"Your commentator friend's live stream should have enough viewership by now. You can proceed with your plans; I'll arrange for others to handle the rest," Lin Yan continued, unable to ascertain the truthfulness of Sun Tianhe's statement.
"Once this matter is settled, pack your things and come with me!"
"Alright!" Sun Tianhe readily agreed. He was willing to do anything to see the group that had wronged him over a decade ago ruined.
After the race, Xiao K checked his live stream's popularity, which had surpassed a million concurrent viewers. Even after the race concluded, the number of viewers continued to climb.
Xiao K was stunned by the data. He had thought the popularity would decrease if Lin Yan lost, but it was the opposite.
A live stream that had been active for only a little over ten minutes had attracted such a massive audience, even drawing the attention of the platform's administrators. This wasn't a decline in popularity; it was an explosion.
"No, I need to reveal the events of that year quickly." Startled by the sheer number of viewers, Xiao K finally remembered his primary objective.
In the office building of a certain streaming platform, two administrators, seated at their computers, exchanged glances, both reflecting shock.
The live stream's popularity reaching such levels within eighteen minutes was undoubtedly their best performance of the year.
Furthermore, backend data indicated that a significant portion of the user traffic originated from overseas.
Just as they were preparing to report this matter, Xiao K in the live stream cleared his throat and spoke.
"I'm very grateful to 'Lin Shen' for joining my live stream today. First and foremost, I'm not a fan of 'Lin Shen,' but after watching this race, I've been deeply impressed. 'Lin Shen's' mastery of motocross is no less than his skill in car racing."
Before delving into the main topic, Xiao K offered some praise for Lin Yan. As he wasn't a racer himself, he wasn't privy to Lin Yan's ultimate potential, so he decided to err on the side of exaggeration.
Lin Yan's appearance on his stream had also significantly boosted his follower count, a benefit he gladly accepted.
"However, the matter I intend to discuss today is not about our 'Lin Shen,' but about the driver who competed against him. He is not an unknown racer but a top-tier motocross racer in the country."
At this point, Xiao K paused, allowing the atmosphere to build.
"No, this... Brother Tianhe, is he some hidden master?"
"I think it's possible. When we saw Brother Tianhe before, he was probably hiding his true abilities. Look at the difference in skill now compared to before; they're not even on the same level."
"However, Brother Tianhe is already over thirty. Even if he were a top master, it was likely in his younger days."
"Indeed, 'Lin Shen' is also amazing, winning even in a different field!"
Most of the audience present were regulars at the motocross track and recognized Sun Tianhe; some had known him for years.
However, a majority of viewers in the live stream didn't recognize Sun Tianhe. Yet, they understood that anyone who could compete so closely with "Lin Shen" couldn't be ordinary.
"Alright, alright... we believe you, but hurry up and tell us, why the suspense?"
"Yeah, stop building suspense, seriously."