After all last week’s activity, it would seem that only Stuart Quick has reported any racing action at the weekend.
Stuart was back again at Dalton Barracks airfield, Abingdon on Saturday, where he entered the Cat 4 race, for the last event in the ART Summer Crit series. However, unlike the previous two weeks he was able to enjoy dry and sunny conditions, although the wind was back, with a headwind on the start/finish straight.
Compared to the last two races, this one started off fairly steady, with possibly the windier conditions making the large field of 60 riders more cautious. There were no real attacks off the front until about 4 laps in, with one rider managing to hold a few seconds or so advantage off the front for a lap before being reeled back in.
A few more attacks were tried, but still, no-one could get away. After about 7 laps, Stuart had a little go himself on the start/finish straight. A couple of riders followed, including a friend of Stuart’s who races for North Cotswold. They tried to push on, but the main bunch were soon right on them again. Stuart being up the front and into the back straight now, tried again to split it up, as he noticed the bunch was quite strung out, but again the slight advantage was soon shut down.
Then, half a lap before the 3 laps to go was signalled, a rider did manage to get a gap and he held on until the last corner. So down to a bunch sprint again, where Stuart did lose some momentum as he went far too wide on the last corner and was then not close enough to the front to contest. However, he was still pleased to finish with the bunch.
There’s usually an Autumn series to follow, so why not give it a go and give Stuart some company?
Don’t forget if you’ve been racing at non-club events then do let pressofficer@banburystar.co.uk know with a brief report on how you got on. The more racers we can inspire the better