Oh, yeah? [It's that slight ruffled feathers that catches Blue's attention, and he can't help himself but grin a little. So, just who was this guy, that Blue didn't have to tell him about strategy? Not a trainer, that much was sure...]

[He glances back down as the race nears a new bend- this was where the positions would reshuffle, and he watches as the middle of the pack rearranges itself while the first 2 or 3 go back and forth.] I think that's the only option. 'course, you can't let yourself fall behind completely, but don't you think keeping your ace hidden is a valuable strategy?

[Blue turns back towards him.] Well, where I come from, they are. Apparently not everyone here feels that way. [He gestures to the critter atop his head, who raises a paw.] They can look like anything from Eevee here, to the little dumpy racers down there, to puddles of goo, or ghosts... Pokémon have a lot of variety, so it's a little hard for me to believe they're not.

But Pokémon definitely have one thing in common. And that's that they're competitive- whether it's something like this [He jerks his thumb back towards the race,] or a battle.