Category: B
Result: 2nd

Compared to the weekend, the track looked quiet, but there were still over 30 riders at the track, including 3 (count them!), 3 FFBC'ers: Pritpal, Garry and myself. Garry and I rode the B's and Pritpal rode the A's.

I warmed up quite slowly as I was suffering a groin strain caused by over-zealously using the hip adductor machine in the gym on Monday night. Fortunately, cycling doesn't really use those muscles very much, and the warm-up helped to stretch the muscles out a bit, but it was still painful climbing onto and off the bike.

Onto the racing, and the B's had 11 riders, our first race being a win and out. My last mass start event had been the points race in the District championships where I had managed to hang in OK, and comparing the pace I sustained in that to the one in the win and out I decided that I should be able to do well. I managed to get myself onto Garry's wheel, and with 2 to go, Garry found himself at the front. I gave him some encouraging words to get him to keep the pace up and at the first bell, I jumped round Garry and the rider he helped to bring back. I had to keep it going all the way to the line as I had a rider on my shoulder, but did manage to hold him off for the win.

Next we had a point a lap, another race I haven't been terribly good at at there is no time to recover, unless of course you have a team-mate to help you. There were the usual early attacks in this race, but there was actually a successful break. I had just sprinted for a point when Garry and Nathan Shaw got a bit of a gap. I looked behind me and realised that I was in no-man's land. I burried myself for two laps and got onto Garry and Nate, and sat in to recover for a lap or so. Once I had recovered, Garry let me through to take the point when he was able to. Nate and I alternated in this fashion for a while. I slightly misjudged things with one to go when I sprinted for the point but sat up rather than pressing home for the final sprint. Nate won the final sprint, we ended up equal on points with nate winning due to winning the final sprint.

Garry, Pritpal and I then rode an Olympic sprint in preparation for Friday's District championship. We did OK - it wasn't a great time, but we seemed to work together OK. Riding the sprint, you really begin to appreciate how long the bends on Hellyer actually are. Turns 3 and 4 seemed to go on for ever....

The B's then had an unknown distance scratch race. Nate and I were marking each other very closely. It was rather fun. We knew we were racing each other for the omnium win and we only reacted to each other, not the other attacks. Garry was very kind in jumping after some of the attacks which I would have had to do otherwise - ooooh, teamwork! The bell rings for the final lap and I am following Nate. We sprint, and he leaves the pole lane open going into turn 3 - I go for it, a fraction of a second before he moves down (perfect timing), and I have to check and try to go round the long way. Not to be - Nate takes first the evening omnium and 5 upgrade points. I get second and 3 more upgrade points and we both have enough to upgrade to Cat 3. Nice.

The final event was the traditional combined A/B points race, this time over 50 laps. Nate and I were again racing against each other, and we watched each other very closely. We finished on the same lap, but I managed to pick up a few points along the way, and I think that I was the highest placed B in the finishing order at 6th. Nate worked so hard in the race that he finished and promptly threw up. I have to say that I was feeling that way myself, and needed to eat something quickly to help settle my stomach.

So, a nice evening at the track. 3 FFBC riders, a little bit of teamwork and a good result means I have the points to upgrade. Hurrah!

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