Development rider Stephen and Gary headed to round one of the 6 weekly races making up the ART Summer series which is held on the old airfield at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon.
Leading into the series, Stephen had entered the Castle Combe Summer Series Rounds 2 & 3 in the Cat 3/4 race – both races were a lot high level of racing and faster pace resulting in him being dropped by the bunch. Tonights race was a lighter field of entrants (15) and was a cat 4 only race which resulted in a slower pace with less willingness to work and ultimately the bunch allowing 3 riders to make a move which stayed away at around lap 5. Stephen looked comfortable and consistent for the race and lead into the final corner – got pipped to the line in the sprint for fifth and took 6th position.
Garry, in the same race, managed to stick with the group for the hard first few laps and came away with some good learning points – for only his second ever criterium race and at a new circuit too did really well!
I felt good going into the Series; from only racing 4 times last year I’ve taken on a coach, dropped a fair amount of weight, improved the bike and even organised pre race warm ups instead of just rolling around the car park or track.. ART Summer Series was always my sort of focus this year and for the last few weeks I had been hitting the Castle Combe 3/4 cries getting my head kicked about by much stronger riders – the race was a much more manageble pace and found myself at the front pulling most of the way round. On lap 4/5 I put a small 10s effort to pull away from the pack to see if anyone would come with and sure enough 3 riders attacked which I couldn’t get on the back of and a lap or two after another guy got away – ultimately turned into the winning move as both riders stayed away, dialled in and sort of resigned to fight for fifth – the bunch was very tame on the second corner coming down the straight and I noticed a move on the right of the road so bridged across and sat on the wheel, over took on the second but last corner which left me entering the final corner leading the bunch, put in a seated sprint for the line but unfortunately pulled one or two with me and got pipped to it – so took home 6th.
Stephen
| Rider | Category | Max Power (for race) | Avr. Power (for race) | Max Speed (for race) | Avr. Speed (for race) | Distance (Miles for race) | Finishing Position | Diff + | Total Laps |
| Stephen | Cat 4 | 1,397w | 281w | 33.9 | 24.0 | 21.30 | 6/15 | +2:35.88 | 14 |
| Garry | Cat 4 | 900w | 181 | 34.3 | 21.1 | 18.36 | 14/15 | -2 Laps | 12 |
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