Disclaimer: I don't own the Biker Mice or anyone from that show. I do, however, own Mari, Mandy, Turbo, Starfire, Starmantle, Tactica, Sparky, Kammie, Ice, Fire... and I think that's about it.

This story is a short 'vignette' (I've heard them called) that takes place some time after Homecoming Pt 4 and is just for fun (and an idea I got while watching "Motocross Trap" late one night.)

Read and Enjoy!

Motocross Champ of the Earth

(C) All Rights Reserved

By Goldenmane

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Mari waited astride Ice as the others pulled in beside her. She nodded to each as they waited. Mari could not help but chuckle to herself. Someone had suggested that they hold a contest to see who indeed was the best biker on Earth. And Mars someone else had added. Though why they all agreed when Mandy said to use the Arizona desert for the race's local, she would not even ask. And when by midnight they transported in, the streets were indeed deserted. Though they had decided to race first on the road, then a return trip through the desert.

Mandy had said that the race would be held on the route that led to the Grand Canyon, just outside of Jacob, but not in it so as not to disturb the wildlife, though Charlie had commented that the mice were all the wildlife they needed.

"Now, to prove that I am once and for all the champ," Vinnie said, pulling in on Ice's right. He nodded to Turbo on Fire on her left. "Though the road's too straight. No contest there."

"Yeah right," Mari said, stretching. "Just make sure to put your money where your bike is."

"Just make sure no weapons are used," Turbo muttered. "Remember the last race we had?"

Mari chuckled. "Man, I figured none of us would get back to base. We had what, two bikes between the six of us?"

"All set?" Mandy shouted from on down the line.

Mari waved. "All set on this end."

Fifteen bikers all revved their engines, waiting for Charlie's signal.

"Go!" Charlie shouted.

They sped off in a cloud of dust and a screech of tires. Mari quickly pulled Ice into the lead, Vinnie and Turbo not far behind. The first stretch was a four mile dash to see who had quickest acceleration. Mari glanced behind her. Everyone had spread out, some three abreast as they made full use of both sides of the road.

Mari returned her attention to the road, leaning low on Ice. The first part seemed to go by fast and soon she found herself banking into a gentle left hand curve. The race was still early and no one wanted to push their bikes just yet.

Mari eased up on Ice, letting Vinnie and Turbo pull abreast. She smiled to each in turn. "So, bored yet?"

"Nah," Vinnie said, riding low on his bike.

"Nice and straight," Turbo quipped.

Mari chuckled, scanning her radar for any blips. They had all agreed that at the first sign of traffic, especially cops, they would transport out, even at top speed, to a remote desert local and decide where to go from there. So far her radar remained silent. Not even any Plutarkian activity from either Monterrey Jack in Las Vegas or Gouda in Los Angeles.

"Boring," Mari heard Rimfire call from the back.

"Scenery's nice," Modo responded.

"Kinda bleak," Kammie said.

Mari half sighed. "Not unlike Mars right now."

They rode on in silence, broken only by Mari's mild curse as Vinnie began to pull ahead. She did not counter, instead remaining by Turbo.

After several long minutes, they made another gentle left hand turn, and shortly thereafter banked gently right for the straight away. Mandy had set up a signal somewhere up ahead. A beacon they would recognize as the turn point. From there they would head out into the desert on a pre planned route, so long as they followed it. More or less.

Mari pulled ahead of Vinnie, smiling as she flew past. She crossed the marker and swung Ice about a sharp turn, screeching tires and kicking up dust. She reared Ice, firing her engines again and blasted off, passing Vinnie and the others, waving as she went by before banking sharply into the desert darkness.

"No fair," Carbine said.

"All's fair in love and war," Mari stated flatly. "Even in a bike race." She laughed, pushing Ice to the limits.

"Not that," Carbine said. "Bike's got problems. Something's gone in the engine. Looks like we got our first casualty."

Mari glanced over her shoulder. She could see several beams splitting the night. The others were on her tail. Literally.

"We'll be back for a pickup," Starfire said.

"I'll be waiting," Carbine said.

Mari returned her attention to the desert. Not so smooth a sailing as before. Now they could encounter pitfalls. Or wildlife, Mari thought, firing Ice's engines to jet over a critter in her path. "Occupational hazard ahead," she called to the others.

"Yeeow," she heard from Mandy.

"You all right?" Mari asked, concerned when she did not hear anything.

"Charlie wiped out in front of me. Looks like there's new road kill," Mandy said. "We're both out. Totalled both bikes."

"But not us," Charlie added.

Mari sighed. Down three already. She glanced behind her, eyes going wide when she saw three bikes on Ice's flank.

"Can't let you hog all the glory," Vinnie said.

"You're not getting out of my sight for long," Turbo said with a chuckle.

"Just here to prove that you rookies still got a lot to learn," Stoker said, pulling in beside Ice.

Mari grinned. "Can't keep an old soldier down, eh?"

"Hit the brakes!" Turbo yelled.

They all skidded to a halt with some minor bumping and scrapes.

"I thought we weren't going to the Grand Canyon," Starfire said.

"This aint' the Grand Canyon," Mari said. "Looks like the Plutarkians have set their sights here. That must be why Las Vegas and Los Angeles have been so quiet lately. Monterrey and Gouda have travelled south."

"No sign of them. Neither coming nor going," Starmantle said.

"We were too focussed on the road to catch this," Stoker said. "But now we're on the dirt."

Mari edged Ice closer to the edge of the hole. "Not that deep. No idea where the dirt's gone. Not much we can do about it now."

"Radar's clean," Throttle said.

"What now?" Kammie asked.

Mari backed away, revving Ice's engines. "We resume the race and check back in the daylight."

They all agreed and the race resumed. Mari would not yield her lead this time, pulling ahead when either Vinnie, Turbo or Stoker came abreast of Ice. They were nearing the home stretch and she would not loose now.

Mari kicked Ice into overdrive when she saw the lights of Jacob once more. She swerved quickly, returning to the road. She heard the screech of tires and knew the others would give her a run for it. Just a few more miles, she mused, and they would be right back where they started.

She reared Ice pulling slightly ahead of the twin beams that lit the road beside her. She chanced a glance, smiling when she saw Vinnie and Stoker pulling in beside her.

Mari gunned Ice's engines all the harder, pushing her bike to it's limits. She grimaced as they pulled abreast of her. Any moment they would cross the marker Mandy had planted just before the race.

Mari half smiled when she began to pull ahead. She grinned even harder when she saw the faint blue markers. The finish line was in sight.

Mari burst across the markers with a whoop, which quickly turned into a full skid. She hung on with all her might, keeping Ice upright, until another bike slammed into her. She fell hard, tangled amongst Ice and two other bikes and their riders.

"Someone greased the road!" Vinnie cried, heaving his bike off of him.

"You don't think..." Mari began, letting him help her disentangle from Ice.

"Couldn't be," Stoker finished, groaning and heaving himself out from under his bike.

The others arrived quickly, skidding as well into small heaps.

"What happened and who won?" Starmantle asked, picking himself up.

"Plutarkians no doubt happened," Mari said. "And as for the race...I can't tell. We were too close bunched."

"A tie then?" Tactica asked, righting her bike.

Mari nodded. "Sounds fair to me. What about you two?"

"Good enough," Stoker said.

Vinnie started to grumble, crossing his arms. "Should race over."

Mari punched up the nearest station, breaking out into laughter. She gasped for breath, laughing all the harder at their querulous looks.

"What!" Vinnie finally cried out.

"Seems a tanker filled with oil flipped around here. Most of it was cleaned up, but they were warning motorists to be careful. The roads might be greasy still. They had to go get more sand to clean it up, but they got the rig out quickly," Mari said.

"Then it's not the Plutarkians, finally," Tactica said.

Mari shook her head. "Nope, but now we got to celebrate. Um.. after we go and get Carbine, Mandy and Charlie."

Vinnie nodded. "I've got Carbine."

Mari likewise nodded. They both transported out, retrieving both rider and bike, and retuning to the others. Mari filled them in on what they missed.

In the end they all decided to call it a draw. The Motocross Champ of the Earth and Mars would be jointly held between Mari, Vinnie and Stoker. Until next year, that was. Mandy flatly stated she would set up a camera at the finish line to record the actual victor.

They transported back to Chicago to celebrate. Biker Mice style.

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Never underestimate the power of a random thought and late nights. Let me know what you thought about it. I'd appreciate it greatly.

Thanks,

Goldenmane