Just home from the SuperDrome and reflecting on a great night of track racing.
We saw a real mix of sprint and endurance racing for both seniors and juniors in the build up to the big 300 Lap Derby.
While the ‘big boys’ held themselves back for the main race we managed to get ourselves well ahead of schedule and so we became creative and introduced a new event – the “Latvian Pursuit” (for want of a better name) for all grades – which seemed to be a success – and the Seniors had a crack at a ‘longest lap’ which saw Leigh Hoffman hold his nerve and snatch the cash from the Race Directors’ hand.
But finally onto the main event and what is easily the biggest track event in South Australian track racing – the 300 Lap Derby…
With seven World Champions in the field, an Olympic Silver medalist and a pro who has ridden in all three Grand Tours, the start list was easily the most credentialed and best fields for a Endurance track event in Australia for many years (if not ever).
Defending champion Sam Welsford started with a bang picking up the first sprint, gaining laps and setting himself up for a shot at back-to-back titles. However with such a hot field, riders such as Jordan Kerby, Leigh Howard, Alex Porter and Kel O’Brien they were not going to let him have it all his own way.
Early running saw a super hot pace with the first laps being clocked approaching 60kph and at that speed we started to see riders quickly losing laps.
At the break (150 laps) the favourites had started to sort themselves out and after the restart the mid-way leader Sam went on the hunt for more points picking up another three ‘preme’ sprints but a couple of breakaways from Jordan and Kel and then again by Leigh, Alex and Rohan Wight saw him miss out on picking up the 20 points for gaining a lap on the field and ultimately miss a top four finish.
Scott Cameron and Josh Harrison rode well to accumulate points during the race and the young guns from SASI including Jarrad Drizners, Cooper Tye and Cooper Sayers rode well throughout to sneak into the minor placings when points were on offer. ‘Super Coach’ Tim Decker managed to sneak a point in near the end and managed to hold on until he succumbed to the pace with about 30 laps to go.
In the end, as they say ‘the cream rises to the top’ and besides picking up points for gaining laps throughout the race, Leigh Howard scored points in 12 of the 14 ‘preme’ sprints including every sprint in the second 150 laps!
Final placings saw Leigh crowned the 300 Lap Champion for 2017 and take out the event on 95 points, Alex Porter was second with 88 points, 3rd was Kel O’Brien (74pts) and Jordan Kerby finished 4th (71pts).
Thanks to all the riders for putting on a great race and as usual to all the volunteers, Commissaires and helpers who helped make it a great night of racing.
Who said track racing was dead!!
Thanks!
Wayne Hogben
President
Kilkenny CC
Video link here:
https://www.facebook.com/michael.bails.3/posts/1647837995238480The John Kelly Livestream Vids
https://www.facebook.com/100006602940204/videos/2021247608105318/https://www.facebook.com/100006602940204/videos/2021234444773301/
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