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VC Venta Circuits Race #2

Thurston Circuit, Andover, March 16, 2003

Sandy Doubles upwith win at Thruxton Circuit

By David Harmon, Team Endurasport.com

Another day of strong gusting winds and another exposed course did nothing to upset Greg Sandy’s current top form in Race 2 of the VC Venta Circuits at Thruxton on Sunday.

The leader of the UK based arm of Team Endurasport.com - Principia broke away as early as lap 2 of 27 laps around the Hampshire motor racing circuit taking with him James Taylor (City of Edinburgh RC) and Ian Alexander (Cheltenham and County). The leading trio were soon joined by recent winner of a round of the National Circuit Series at London’s Eastway Cycle Circuit, Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles).

With the gap widening between this front group of 4 and the bunch a further 6 riders sensing danger of the break jumped clear of the chasing pack and working steadily made contact with the leaders after a further 2 laps.

With some many riders now working well together this leading group rapidly increased their lead to over 2 minutes. When, finally, the counter attack came it was already too late to close down on the flying front 9.

Racing over 80km in such testing conditions meant only the strong were likely to survive and so it proved. 3 laps from the end Sandy attacked up the long, uphill Woodham Hill section of the 2.35 mile circuit and only Grant Bayton (Anglia Sport/Condor) could go with him, the two building a 15sec lead over the 7 riders behind.

Long hard pulls from ‘race of truth’ ace Michael Hutchinson (RTTC) and Pickup failed to make a dent in the leading duos lead and as Sandy and Bayton swept through Club Corner and onto the start/finish straight, the Team Endurasport.com-Principia fast-man accelerated away to take his second win on a motor racing circuit in a fortnight.

James Taylor, second to Sandy last week at Castle Combe had to settle for third on the Hampshire track with Ben Luckwell (Maestro UK - Fir croft Hotel) and Paul Pickup rounding out the top 5.

Results, 80 km (27 laps)

1 Greg Sandy (Team Endurasport.com - Principia)
2 Grant Baytown (Anglia Sport/Condor)
3 James Taylor (City of Edinburgh RC)
4 Ben Luckwell (Maestro UK - Fircroft Hotel)
5 Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles RT )

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