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By Kieran Turner
With the NZ track champs on in Wanganui there were a few familiar faces missing but this didn't stop the action. A relatively quiet start with no attacks for at least the first 4 laps. Eventually Wayne Mason got proceedings underway. Susie (double-dipper) Pryde was also active in the first part of the race looking to get up the road. The first sprint was taken by Scott Wilder who took a flyer at the end of the back straight and won it easily. There were plenty of attacks but there was always a response and nobody looked like they would get away. Karl Murray put in his first attack and was quickly joined by Kieran Turner. The two went clear but as it was to neither's advantage they sat up on the back straight to wait for the bunch.
Aaron Strong who has been quiet of late decided that it was time to put in a series of attacks and eventually took the second sprint of the night. Not content with this he continued to look to get up the road as did Wayne Mason who never seems to feel the need to spend a lot of time in the company of the bunch.
A small group finally went clear when Murray Spencer put in his usual attack of the evening. Murray attacks at the same stage of every race and I am sure the officials use him to work out how long the race has been going for. He was joined by Wayne Mason and the two opened up a good gap. With two to go Karl Murray and David Wyman bridged across, as the bunch failed to react, content to watch the race disappear up the road.
Into the last lap and a freight train went down the side of the bunch as Rusty Smith wound up to get in the action. Kieran Turner glued himself to his wheel and the pair got on with two corners remaining. The sprint opened up early with a howling tailwind as Karl Murray jumped hard followed by Murray Spencer and Kieran Turner. In the tailwind neither rider could find the legs to come round Karl and this was how the race ended. Karl has shown that he was the strongest and now takes a commanding 17 point lead into the final race of the series. The HILTON beckons.
The race took on a different look in the early laps as three riders went clear and managed to hold the bunch off for several laps. But as so often happens in B grade it seems there is always someone willing to chase, even if you have never ever seen that person on the front before. Such is the competitive spirit of the B-grade field that everyone is determined to get to that finish line together.
The first sprint was taken by Fergus O'Connor who has shown the desire to attack over the last few weeks. Despite this desire and that of several others, such as Michael Northey, who tried to animate the race, the sheep mentality pervaded and is was another bunch sprint for the honours.
Clint Patchett seems to be proving himself a good tailwind tactician and has certainly hit a good patch of form recently. He went from the top as did newcomer Brendon Fowler. It was Clint who was the stronger taking it by a bike length from Ric Woodward who pipped Fowler by a tire width on the line with a good throw of the bike - not bad for a mountain biker, although there a rumours of fixed wheel training in the bunch.
The unlucky rider of the night was Christian Pulley, in second overall, who punctured in the bottom corner and managed to hold it up long enough to get to the next corner before being thrown from his bike like he was riding a rodeo bull. He bounced back up though and proceeded to chase for the MET helmet but finished out of the points. Fortunately for Christian series leader Todd Hewlett was promoted to A-Grade by race director Darren Murray. One more week Christian.
A grade 1 Karl Murray 2 Murray Spencer 3 Kieran Turner 4 David Wyman 5 Wayne Mason 6 Rusty Smith 7 Hamish McPherson 8 Nick Teeboon 9 Aaron Strong B Grade 1 Clint Patchett 2 Ric Woodward 3 Brendon Fowler 4 Michael Northey 5 Dean Griffen 6 Marty Stock 7 Mark McGilley