Magspeed makes the podium…

Back to the races last weekend for some of the Magspeed, team with Tracey and Sam in Ipswich at the National Trophy, Tomo racing up in the North East Cyclocross League League and Scotty headed to the West Midlands League for more muddy action. Sean also got the MTB out again and made the trip to the Gorrick Series, putting in a very strong position in the 4hr event, coming back with 5th place!

Scotty decided to head to the West Midlands League after a slight mishap involving the enter-by date of National Trophy Series… but it was a nice change of scenery for Scotty, who hadn’t been to the West Midlands League since he was a Junior. Starting from the back of the grid meant a hard race for the Magspeed Racing Team Manager as there was a strong field of local regulars to compete against. The course was pretty exposed to the wind and part of the circuit ran around a lake with some interesting little technical sections to mix things up along the way. After a quick start by the local fast boys, Scotty had to try and scythe his way through the pack and try and get in amongst the leading riders before the gaps were too large. A decent start meant that by the end of lap two, he found himself in the group, well ahead of the pack, fighting for 2nd place, with the leader making a charge for it from the gun! It turned into a three-way battle for 2nd and after another two laps our man put the hammer down and tried to give chase for the leader, leaving his fellow chasers behind. The gap came down to around 20 seconds but never fully closed and Scotty had to settle for 2nd position, which is still a decent result considering the poor grid positioning and having to make his way through the field.

Up north Tomo smashed out another podium in the North East Cyclocross League against some very tough competition proving once again that his form is building towards the upcoming National Championships in January, a big target for our man from Sheffield.

Over in Ipswich both Tracey and Sam were competing in Round 5 of the National Trophy Series on the very exposed, and generally very fast, circuit at Trinity Park. On the Saturday Tracey managed to put in another extremely strong performance on the fast course to add another podium to her list of great results for the year, coming home in 2nd place, therefore maintaining her lead in the series and heading into the last National Trophy race (Shrewsbury) in the green leader’s jersey.

The next morning it was Sam’s turn to put down his power and face off against the quickest Junior riders in the country. With a good grid position again it was time for Sam to try and prove just how quick he actually is on a course that would suit him and hopefully put his injury, and a very tough race in York, behind him. A puncture on the start line didn’t help nerves, but Sam managed to get to the pits, swap bikes, get back to the start line and then get his head in the game. A slightly ‘fluffed’ start, meant that Smithy, once he (eventually) got clipped in, had to give it his all and managed to ride down the outside of the pack (through a massive puddle that noone seemed to want to ride through) and managed to get right to the pointy end of affairs by the first corner. Up with the big boys , the pace was high but our boy Sam forced the pace and within half a lap, he was leading the race. Sam was in the mix all race long and was in the race for 3rd position until the last lap when one of the three riders that Sam was battling with, slid out meaning the wheel of 3rd place was lost and Sam was JUST too far away to get back for the sprint finish for 3rd… but an amazing 4th place for our boy, a cracking result for the Cheltenham rider.

Plenty on this coming weekend, a Magspeed Belgium trip, Western League and some Northern Cyclocross action too, time for some more fun for Team Orange!