28/02/2009
Eleven riders contested the final 9am start race for the 2009 summer calendar at Warragul this Saturday. The limit of
Next away was the 8 minute bunch of James Lalor and Dave Ballie. A further 4 minutes back were Collin Brown and Matthew Kennelly. Scratch comprised Geoff Thomson, Callan Barker and Paul Yeatman.
Scratch started off fast and almost immediately Yeatman was in trouble and was 50m off the back by the first turn. Thommo and Barker eased off until the group reformed and soon all three were doing regular turns. Things were looking good. With 5km of the chase complete, a front wheel puncture meant it was race over for Yeatman.
After lap 1, Kennedy was had a 2 minute gap from Snowden, White and Jones who in turn had a two minute gap from Ballie and Lalor. Kennelly and Brown were 6 minutes down with scratch a further minute back.
Lap two saw Kennedy’s lead reduced to 30 seconds. Lalor and Ballie were just over 2 minute back. Kennelly and brown had been swallowed up by scratch and all four riders were 4 minutes back,
Lap 3 saw Kennedy caught and this large bunch was 2 minutes ahead of a lone Ballie who had left Lalor 2 minute behind. Next to begin lap 4 were Barker and Thommo who had shed Brown by 30 seconds and Kennelly by 5 minutes.
Scratch looked like they would have their work cut out for them for the final lap as they had 4 and a half minutes to make up on the final lap. The lead looked set to claim line honors, however a clipping of wheels brought down the lead bunch and all of these riders pulled out. This opened things up for the scratch riders who caught the two riders ahead of them.
Coming up to the line Barker was giving Thommo a great run for his money, but Thommo’s experienced legs held out for fastest time of 1:28:05. The third rider across the line was Ballie.
