Series Starts In The Fog

24/04/2016

By Rob Monk

DJ Salton Tiling and Waterproofing
DJ Salton Tiling and Waterproofing

The first race of the DJ Salton Tiling and Waterproofing series started at Darnum in chilly early morning fog on Sunday morning. It finished in beautiful autumn sunshine.

The A grade race was dominated by National Road Series duo  Cy Monk and Nick Aitken. Cy and Nick both ride for the Pat’s Veg team at the national level. This didn’t mean they would have it all their way at Warragul. Chris Joustra and Shane Stiles were still keen to get up the road from them. Brett Kennedy was his usual combative self. Kennedy’s attacks in a bike race resemble those of a suicide bomber. They do cause indiscriminate damage to his opponents but always result in harm to himself. Nick and Cy went one – two in the intermediate sprint. In the finish Cy surged clear on the final hill and went on to take an easy victory. Shane Stiles sprinted well to take second from Jayden Manintveld in third.

Matt Malacarn was the main aggressor in the B grade race. He managed a lap off the front with Pete Whelan before Pete had enough and returned to the peloton. Rob Monk jumped across to join Malacarne and these two held off the chasers for 4 laps, taking the intermediate sprint in the process. They were caught just past the finish line on the bell lap but Malacarne was not finished. He again took off at the top of Sturr’s Rd and looked likely to solo to the finish. In a game of bluff Tambassis, Monk, Whelan and Keeble all refused to chase. Whoever blinked first would lose the race as the effort of chasing would tire them for the finish. Eventually visitor Luke Morrison realized the locals were not going to chase and he started the pursuit in earnest. Malacarne still looked the winner with 500 meters to race but he stopped as if shot on the final hill. George Tambassis had been frugal with his efforts till now and led out the sprint. Rob Monk went past him as crystal cranks cramped. Scott Keeble had the last run at Monk but Rob held on for the win. Keeble was second with Tambassis third.

In C grade veteran Pete Finlayson was having his first race of the year. Early in the race he let the young fellows bounce around and waste their energy. When he saw Ross Henry and Thomas Sandner go up the road late in the race he joined them. Sandner, Henry and Finlayson in the break; what a blast from the past. Jimmy Lalor made sure the old fellows would not have it all their own way and he rode across to them. In the finish Thomas showed some things don’t change. He took off at the bottom of the final hill making sure it would not come down to a short sprint. He held off a fast finishing Finlayson with Ross in third. A win for the ages.

Mark Mason has been threatening to win for a few weeks now. Mason and Dwayne McDonald love to drive the pace on the front and they made it an honest race in D grade. Mark won the intermediate sprint and Nicole Summerfield just flicked DeMac to get second. Mark was just too strong for DeMac in a grinding sprint for victory. The improving Leigh Jamieson was third.

There is no Warragul race next week but members are encouraged to race at Bena with Leongatha on Saturday or Drouin South with Southern Masters on Sunday.

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