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By Malcolm Sawford
Overcast and a little humid for this morning's race, but for most riders any day without rain is a good one! Good fields across the board, although some of the D Grade regulars were mysteriously absent. To clear up any confusion, racing continues on this circuit every Sunday (including Easter) until April 21, so take advantage of our delayed summer and get some speed in your legs before the start of the road season.
The first attack in A Grade came form Matt Chessum (Fitzroy Cycles) and Ryan Kelly (Terry Hammond Cycles). The pair escaped 25 minutes but were not allowed too much distance by the well organized bunch. Robert Tighello (ACR), who has dominated the local scene over the past couple of months, was having a quiet day as he battles through a severe cold and was content to roll through when his turn came.
The bunch was back together just after the half way mark, and in a rarity, the pace dropped off for the best part of 10 minutes before Chessum jumped away again. The result was no different, as he was allowed to dangle off the front for another 5 minutes before a steady chase reeled him in.
An attack with 12 minutes remaining from Jamie Drew (iteamNOVA), Matt Jackson (ACR), Guy Green, Rob Young (SBR) and the newly promoted David Sturt (Terry Hammond Cycles) was the day's most threatening, and started to pull away from the peloton. Tighello called on his reserves to blast across the growing gap, and this move sparked the rest of the bunch to dig in and chase the leading group down. Chessum had one last dig with 5 minutes remaining with Adrian Sansonetti (ACR), and Drew tried to go alone but was caught at the call of 3 to go as the bunch shaped for a bunch finish.
Tighello had no trouble winning the sprint, ahead of local track star Warren Knevitt (O'Mara Cycles) and Sansonetti. The minor placings went to Drew, Andrew Steele (Le Tour Cycles) and Guy Green.
Adam Bonney, lead out king for the B Grade sprinters put a cat among the pigeons with a solo attack 24 minutes into the B Grade race. Once recaptured, he remembered his place and kept out of trouble to set things up at the finish for his preferred fast man, Fast Eddy Perez.
Brett Buckland and Heath Jackson (Mainline Cycles) had a brief stint off the front in the middle part of the race, and visiting Japanese rider Miyoko Karami made an effort with Buckland and Under 17 Victorian Track team member Simon Clarke. Others to try unsuccessfully to finish ahead of the fast men were Tyrin Simpson, Steve Hickey, Ian Johnson, and Tom Blazevic, with Power and Paul Lumsden the last 2 to go clear before the wind up to the sprint finish.
A fall claimed 4 riders at the 2nd last corner, and upset the lead out trains of half the bunch. No serious injuries, but Peter Coltan took advantage of the confusion (and the handicapper's generosity) to claim the win and promotion to A Grade. Chris 'the Snake' Salisbury showed he hasn't lost any of his renowned leg speed to finish 2nd ahead of Adrian Ward and Jamie Goddard.
Miyoko Karami showed her talents are better suited to the road claiming the first woman prize in a field which included Anna Millward. At the recent Austral Wheelrace she took the instructions for the handicap a bit literally and was 'pushed off' over the handlebars by her handler!
Paul Groves was the only rider to escape the clutches of the 'chase anything' C Grade bunch, but was reeled in well before the eventual bunch kick which went to Jack Lumby, from Jeremy Gough, Russ Collins and Jason Jones. Renee Heinreich continued her recent run of wins in the Women's category and is not too far from mixing it with the B Grade women.
Trevor Key took out the D Grade sprint, ahead of Mark Spataro who had tried to break the bunch up earlier unsuccessfully. Young Alex Smyth flew home in 3rd ahead of Jason Gelsi.
Remember, there are only 2 more races at AFL Park (19th and 26th of March) before we lose the circuit for good, so don't miss your chance to try for one last win!
A Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps - 30 starters 1 Robert Tighello (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Warren Knevitt (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Adrian Sansonetti (Northcote CC) 4 Jamie Drew (iteamNOVA) 5 Andrew Steele (Blackburn CC) 6 Guy Green (Blackburn CC) B Grade - 1 hour + 3 laps - 49 Starters 1 Peter Coltan (Footscray CC) 2 Chris Salisbury (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Adrian Ward (Footscray CC) 4 Jamie Goddard (Blackburn CC) Women 1 Miyoko Karami (Japan) C Grade - 45 mins + 3 laps - 30 starters 1 Jack Lumby (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Jeremy Gough (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Russell Collins (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Jason Jones (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) Women 1 Renee Heinreich (Norwood CC) D Grade - 45 mins + 3 laps - 12 starters 1 Trevor Key (Blackburn CC) 2 Mark Spataro (Blackburn CC) 3 Alex Smyth (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Jason Gelsi (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) E Grade - 45 mins + 3 laps 1 Nathan Sturt (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Mitch Peart (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Tim Gallagher (Balance Carnegie Caulfield CC)
Australian results from the past week |
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