Senior riders set-off on 3 laps of the circuit for the Championship.
(30 event images)
The Club held the 2016 Road Titles on Saturday around the Korrine circuit. The weather was cool with light winds but pretty good for winter road racing. The seniors raced 3 laps of the 19km circuit, “B” grade 2 laps and the juniors 1 lap with good fields in each group.
The senior race had 9 starters and it became a very tactical battle between the older heads and the young tyros. This resulted in a slower race than normal with various riders trying to gain a break and being brought back to the field. All these efforts sapped the energy of some and the field was just a 5 rider group going into the last lap. Stefan Kirsch made his move just as the bunch swung onto the Lance Creek Rd and quickly opened a gap. With no rider willing to do work to chase the break down the race was over by the time they reached the McGraw Rd hill and the plunge down to the Kongwak round-about. Stefan was able to solo to the finish line to take the title. However, the tactics continued with the bunch and it eventually came down to a sprint to the line. In the dash to the line it was Thomas McFarlane winning narrowly from Austin Timmins and Brett Franklin. The dropped riders were lead in by Steve Allen for 5th, David Supple 6th, Leigh Stott 7th, Harrison McLean 8th and Kevin Feely 9th.
In “B” grade the bunch swapped turns over the 2 laps with several riders losing contact over the journey. On the climb up to the Glen Alvie corner the final selections were made as Gavin Slavin tested the legs. He managed to sneak away from Cam Brown and Bernadette Fitzgerald and looked a winner. However, Cam Brown used the down hill run to the finish to wind up the big gear and eventually chased Gavin down 40m before the line to claim the win from Gavin and Bernadette. Tony Giles raced home for 4th just out-sprinting Brad Bouquet, Kerry Pritchard was 6th and Damian King 7th.
In the Junior race, Oliver McLean attacked the bunch on the McGraw Rd hill and quickly opened a gap and split the field up in the process. Oliver soloed in for the win. Meanwhile the battle for the minor places was being fought out by Thomas Fitzgerald and Thomas Bouquet. Thomas Fitzgerald appeared to have Thomas Bouquet in trouble on the climb up to the Glen Alvie corner but did not press on with the advantage so it came down to a sprint to the line. Thomas Bouquet proved stronger in the dash to the line to take 2nd with Thomas Fitzgerald taking 3rd. Kaleb Jans finished 4th, Zach Stubbs-Taylor 5th, Jack Allen 6th.
Next week the riders will tackle a new course with racing starting at Hallston Hall and will include racing on the Grand Ridge Rd. Members are reminded there is a Club meeting at the RSL Leongatha on Tuesday night at 7.30pm.
Lindsay
updated 8am 2nd June
