[Running the same circle over and over again. Is that truly how he sees Eggman's schemes? Nothing more than to be thwarted, barely even beneath his notice?

...Is that how he saw Neo's scheme?

The momentary pause is noticed - but of course it is. Metal Sonic was built to observe and react accordingly, and Neo is an upgraded, superior version of the original. So he notices, but what exactly his counterpart's look means is completely beyond him. There must be a significance to it - but if the hedgehog doesn't feel the need to elaborate on it, then all he can do is guess, and that's hardly useful at all.

He was so distracted he didn't even get to see what Sonic wrote on the paper. Oh well, it likely was exactly what he said, anyway.]

I don't know what you mean by that.

[It might even sound the tiniest bit frustrated - not that Neo would ever admit to such a thing, anyway.]

I will not underestimate you again. Rest assured that I will destroy you once we've returned home.

[A pointless assertion, but one he feels the need to say anyway, because he's riled up and he can't solve it by way of fighting or racing the hedgehog. How agitating.]