Peter MacDonald Finally Wins One

29/01/2017

by Jason Tubnor

A larger turnout of 48 riders contested the third race in the BTE Summer Criterium Series on the Burke Street Circuit on Sunday morning.

The highlight was the maiden win by D Grade rider Peter MacDonald. Pete had declared himself a certainty beaten the previous two races. It was third time lucky this week. Peter and Rob Knowles broke away after the intermediate sprint and were never caught. Pete took the win from Rob with Bernadette Fitzgerald third, Lea McLean was fourth and Linda Tubnor fifth.

Mark Mason is making a habit of racing conservatively in C grade and then towelling them up in the sprint. That was the pattern of racing again. Thomas Sandner tried repeatedly to animate the race but was chased down each time. Mason won the sprint easily from Connor Bagot and Ross Henry. Mark’s leadout man Dave Smith was fourth with Col Brown fifth.

Daniel Furmston from the Latrobe City Club has not raced for a number of years. He is a former national level rider so fitness does not take long to reacquire. Race smarts and experience never go away. He put on a dominant display of sprinting to easily win the B grade race. The only other rider in the race worthy of comment was his Latrobe City Team mate Jim Timmer arrends. Big Jim spent most of the race on the front towing the field around. Each time up the hill he had hearts racing in the trailing conga line of wheel suckers but he was unable to dislodge any. Furmston took the win from Jason Fritzaff. Third and fourth were Leongatha brothers Harry and Ollie McLean. Rob Monk did nothing all race but managed to roll a few in the sprint for fifth.

A grade started fast until they caught B grade. They then sat up and stopped B grade from racing for 2 laps. When they eventually got going again  Brett Kennedy, Chris Joustra and Shane Stiles managed to get off the front. The break looked promising until Kennedy inexplicably attacked his companions and all co-operation ceased. They were soon caught and Brett Rollinson went solo off the front. After half a lap Matt Parkinson jumped over to him. When Shane Stiles got across to the leaders the race was all over for the chasers. Stiles, Parkinson and Rollinson soon had a 40 second lead on the chasing bunch. Stiles led out the sprint and Rollinson took over a long way from home. It looked like Parkinson was going to win. Rollinson was just too strong and refused to be passed. Parkinson was second with Stiles third. Craig Skinner won the bunch sprint for fourth from Josh Akarsu.

Riders can have a double dose of racing this week. Race two of the Complete Color Gippsland Series is on Wednesday night at the Cloverlea circuit. Sign on at Darnum Stump before 6.10 pm. Race four of the BTE summer crit series is on next Sunday morning at Burke St.

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