Results and Reports for February 2 - 3, 2002

New Zealand

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Cyco Criterium Series II - Race 4

February 7, 2002

A Grade

Ideal conditions greeted the riders on the circuit tonight which led to fast and furious racing from the gun. Karl Muarry and Aaron Strong looked to get things going from the gun but the bunch closed them down quickly realising the early danger.

The first sprint was eagerly contested with Troy Klink getting the final say on the line. Steven Wallis, the new Auckland Points Race Champion, had been active early and attacked again this time taking series leader Eric McKenzie with him.

The bunch was content to give them some rope but when Karl Murray attacked to go across the gap he was quickly joined by Kieran Turner and the move was shut down as the bunch chased the leaders. The bunch was together again for the second sprint which was taken by the tirelessly working Nigel Hunt as he jumped clear down the home straight. With three to go Karl Murray had slipped of the front in a small group and was looking dangerous but a stellar turn on the front by Tim Pawson brought it all back together again.

As soon as the bunch came together Pawson kept going and went clear and was joined by Andrew East. The two looked like they might hold out but only had 30m into the finish straight. Kieran Turner jumped early and opened a gap but couldn't hold off Gordon Bearman and Karl Murray on the line. Behind the bunch had been fragmented after Eric McKenzie and Ryan Hoogenberg tangled in the sprint with Eric falling heavily. Fortunately (as fortunate as you can be when crashing anyway) for Eric it was the smoothest part of the course although this didn't stop him nurturing some good road rash. With any luck Eric will bounce back next week as despite his bad luck he is still in the hunt overall after good recent results.

B Grade

Not quite as big a field as last week but there are several riders keen on the MET helmet up for grabs so the pace was on from the start. Matt Treanor showed a good turn of speed to take the first sprint. There were a few attacks as riders tried to take advantage of the lighter winds but again no move was able to stick. In the end it was down to another bunch sprint as newcomer Todd Hewlett (fourth last week) took it from Richard Speer and series leader Christian Pulley.

Results

A Grade
 
1 Gordon Bearman
2 Karl Murray
3 Kieran Turner
4 Troy Klink
5 John Fowler
6 Tim Pawson
7 Matt Gilbert
 
Points (Provisional)
 
1 Karl Murray           63
2 Kieran Turner
3 Eric McKenzie         58
4 Gordon Bearman        41
5 Ryan Hoogenberg       38
6 Rusty Smith           28
7 Richard Bowker        26
8 Murray Spencer
9 Mike Metz             22
10 Troy Klink           15
 
B Grade
 
1 Todd Hewlett
2 Richard Speer
3 Christian Pulley
4 Dean Griffen
5 Kim Struthers
6 Chris Wanless
7 Gareth Summers
8 Adam Gaskell
9 Mark McGilly
10 Duncan Styles
 
Points (provisional)
 
1 Christian Pulley      73
2 Richard Speer         45
3 Matt Treanor          43
4 David Wyman           26
5 Kim Struthers         29
6 Dean Griffen          27
7 Chris Tennant-Brown   26
8 Adam Gaskill
9 Gareth Summers
10 Peter Harding        22

Previous results from New Zealand