As the countdown hit zero, the changes started at the ground level. Jeff's digitigrade feet flattened, their grippy pads transforming into smooth, flat surfaces. The soles of his boots formed a small slit right in front of his heel. When he lifted his foot to inspect it, he noticed that the slit housed a locking mechanism and a small gear drive system, leaving him to wonder, "What in the world is this for?"
His boots began to attain a gleaming chrome appearance, gradually growing taller and stiffer until they reached his knees. He could feel his legs stiffen and reshape themselves into bright red, gleaming metallic tubes, their surfaces unbroken except for strategic ventilation slits placed on the sides. His knees and hips formed mechanical pivots, giving him a wider range of movement than before.
Jeff's tail transformed into a flat, cushioned extension of his lower back while his backside also padded itself for comfort. His body continued to morph into metal, his chest forming a pattern that imitated muscular definition, while still maintaining a smooth, mechanical aesthetic.
Like rings of a blooming flower, ball-joints popped out from his shoulders underneath yet more metallic pads. His arms followed suit shortly after, matching his legs in metallic grandeur. It was then that he noticed a momentary pause in the transformation. The sudden silence left him alone with his thoughts, and his changed body.
He looked down, taking in the shine of his new form, as he realized that the only remaining part that still needed changing was his head. As if on cue, his head began to change. It rounded out into a perfect sphere, his eyes transformed into unblinking, luminous headlamps while his expressive muzzle became a pointed geometric shell.
The back of his head sprouted an instrument cluster, akin to a motorcycle display panel. Behind the new, smooth triangles that were once his ears, formed a pair of mechanized handlebars.
Suddenly, he blacked out. One moment he was standing in his trailer, processing his transformed body, the next, he was waking up in a total void. But the world slowly filled back in. His visual feed was active once more and slowly he felt system after system boot up and come online. He was now a motorcycle robot, a fascinating melding of man and machine.
A sudden burst of self-assuredness washed over Jeff as his programming kicked in. His new robotic form felt perfect, as regular as breathing. He reached into a cabinet, pulling out a pair of axles fitted with wheels—one slightly wider than the other—which he locked into place on his feet. He was not only walking but also capable of controlling his wheel speed and brakes.
With a new surge of confidence, he walked out onto the race track to the applause of a crowd of mechanics and race personnel. One of them asked how he was feeling, and Jeff’s confident reply was, "All systems are nominal...I feel great."
Assured and resolute, he strode towards the race track. He kneeled down, locking his hind axle into place. Holding his front axle firmly in his left hand while balancing his metallic body with the right one, he waited for the race to begin.