28/11/2009
Report by Rob Monk
Race 6 of the Criterium Series on Saturday saw some close and controversial racing.
In A grade the pace was constant but constant surges led Shane Stiles up the hill saw Scott Keeble and Daryl Anderson lose contact with the bunch. Phil Gallager was prominent at the front for much of the race and whenever his face turned red from the exertion Matt Malacarn put the pressure on even more, (welcome back to racing Phil). Brett Rollinson looked comfortable for much of the race. Stiles and Kane Walker just rolled around using the race as a training session. At the bell Stiles did the first half of the leadout work with Walker taking over with 500 meters to the finish. He pulled off with 200 meters to go and Malacarn was first to come off his wheel. Rollinson was also prominent but Thommo had timed the sprint perfectly. He got on top of the big gear near the finish and rolled over Matty to take the win. Kane held on well to take third. The powerhouse that is Jayman Prestidge finished fourth.
The B grade race was a tactical cat and mouse affair where if we were “fair dinkum” would have been declared a no race. Only 2 of the six starters completed the course and they both should have been disqualified for taking advantage of the passing A grade group in the final laps. Rob Monk did plenty of the pace making early but the first solid attack of the race from Simon Baxter on the Bourke St Hill saw him struggling. Simon was allowed to go up the road and Peter Finlayson and Monk were content to let the visiting riders Phil Bechaz and Heath Cohen do the chasing. Next time up the hill Baxter went again and this time Finlayson jumped over to him. Monk again let Cohen chase but Bechaz and Tim Lee were dropped. Rounding the turn into the main straight Monk jumped over to Finlayson and Baxter but could not hold them going up the hill. This duo rode away and the gap began to widen. At this point Cohen, Lee and Bechaz all decided they had had enough racing for the day and sat down to watch the finish. Monk illegally joined the A grade bunch for a lap and they managed to tow him all the way back to Baxter and Finlayson, (sitting on a higher grade is a great way to get promoted as if you are good enough to keep up, you are good enough to stay in that grade- ed).
When the A graders caught them on the hill Baxter jumped on the back of them for a tow as well leaving an angry Finlayson to have words with the Commissarie. Baxter went on to win with Monk in second. Finlayson was still arguing that they both should be disqualified after the race. (usually either a warning, reprimand or relegation would be the result of receiving “outside assistance, although the regs appear not to specifically refer to this situation” – ed).
In C Grade Matt Kennelly dominated again. He won easily in a sprint from Col Brown and Neil Walker. Ken Whittaker promoted himself from D grade and acquitted himself well in the higher grade. Dave Bailey took forth spot.
In D grade Cy Monk accounted for Sophie Bechaz and Greg Horbowicz .
