26/02/1994
Warragul’s Wayne Kestle proved to be too strong in the Warragul weekend scratch races, but this time the race didn’t go all his way. Racing over a new 4.5k circuit and one of the largest A grade fields in years saw constant attacks from the bunch with the decisive move being made on the second lap with Kestle chasing down Aaron Nobelius with Murray Fenwick on his wheel.
Latrobe Valley rider Chris Joustra sensed he had missed the vital move and leapt after the trio closely followed by Paul Yeatman, Travis Fromholtz and Geoff Thomson.
Fromholtz and Yeatman were soon to lose contact as the attacks resumed.
With a rider away in the last 2k Kestle was forced to lead out for home from over a kilometer from the line. The VIS road champ only just held onto his lead by a wheel as Nobelius came storming through followed by Thomson and Joustra.
Fenwick finished second behind followed in four minutes later by David Cairns who rode strongly after having missed the break with Paul Yeatman just behind.
The B grade field was also a large one with a number of riders bordering the A grade ranks. The eventual winner was a determined Anthony Radcliffe who will be joining A grade following a comfortable victory, followed in by Peter Bailey and Cian Chew.
These three were certainly the strongmen of the bunch but were not too far in front of the fast finishing Scott Keeble and a much-improved Stephen Twinning. Dale Grant and Rose Henry were not far off the pace but failed to hold the three stronger riders over the hilly circuit.
The C grade race saw newcomer Tim Plozza blitz the field by over two minutes over the course when he attacked on the fifth lap also dragging away Vic Spunner. Plozza proved to be too strong and Spunner was soon to lose contact as Plozza increased the gap over the field.
Spunner was left to battle on alone and was soon caught by two chasing riders in Anthony Vogrig and Kevin Ware. It was Vogrig who proved too strong in the sprint in coming over Spunner with Ware fourth. Russ Walker was the next rider through followed by Kim Spunner.
