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We saw 69 entries in the event, wrestling their machines through 7 laps, with 12 out of 69 eventually finishing all 7 laps. The scoring team held up well throughout the event, (congratulations people - good effort!) recording 340 entries at the checkpoint. There were 3 DNF's in this event.
Crowd pleaser, ADRIAN SMITH, set the pace early in the race - leading the pack through the checkpoint on the first lap with a 16:43 lap time. CAM SMITH was next through the checkpoint, intent on making the pass on the next lap. Coming in number 3 was RORY MEAD, on the gas, but a little off the pace - now trailing by 0:29. SIMON HULL and LUKE HENRY were next through the gates - separated by 1:15.
We lost 4 riders by the time we'd reached the end of lap 2, with 62 completing lap number 2.
Lap 2 had ADRIAN SMITH still in the lead, followed by CAM SMITH.
We watched as two riders made the largest gains (and losses) on this lap - with BEN GRANT, moving up from number 25 to the number 17 spot - meanwhile HUGH LINTOTT dropped 45 places from number 6 to number 45. RORY MEAD was solid in third place - trailing by 0:27. ROSS BIRD is kicking it, running in the number 4 spot. Meanwhile AIDEN JONES held onto fifth place.
We lost a further 6 riders by the time we'd reached the end of lap 4, with 54 completing lap number 4.
Lap 4 had ADRIAN SMITH still in the lead, followed by CAM SMITH.
The action on this lap centered on BYRON MORRISON, moving up from number 27 to the number 19 spot - and on LUKE HENRY dropping 36 places - from number 13 to number 49. Coming through the checkpoint in third, RORY MEAD was thinking - "Step aside folks, I'm on a roll." At that point there was only 0:09 separation between the number 3 spot and the second place rider. Coming through in fourth, RUEBEN VERMEER wasn't even looking back - content to work on the 4:43 lead held by the third place rider ahead. ROSS BIRD claimed fifth place, trailing by 0:03.
7 more riders dropped off the radar by the time we'd reached the end of lap 5, with 47 completing lap number 5.
At the end of lap number 5, ADRIAN SMITH still had the lead, followed 2:09 later by RORY MEAD.
We watched as two riders made the largest gains (and losses) on this lap - with RICHARD HORNE, moving up from number 30 to the number 23 spot - meanwhile BEN GRANT dropped 33 places from number 13 to number 33. Somewhere on the course we saw a swap in position as CAM SMITH slipped from second place to third, trailing by 0:18. Engine screaming, RUEBEN VERMEER flew through the checkpoint in fourth place, trailing by 4:59 on lap 5. ROSS BIRD refused to sit back - it's not over until it's over - and was in fifth place, trailing the fourth place rider by 0:11.
8 riders decided they had had enough by the time we'd reached the end of lap 6, with 39 completing lap number 6.
At the end of lap number 6, ADRIAN SMITH still had the lead, followed 2:20 later by RORY MEAD.
The action on this lap centered on BRICE WINDELBORN, moving up from number 38 to the number 32 spot - and on MIKE WELSBY dropping 11 places - from number 28 to number 39. RUEBEN VERMEER refused to give an inch and came through the gates in third place. We'll need to watch this one close .... our fourth place rider, (ROSS BIRD) had furrowed brows, and was clearly stalking the third place rider - behind by 0:01. Riding in fifth place, STEVEN BIRD was like the little engine that could .... looking at the fourth place rider, taking it one corner at a time to reduce that 2:10 disadvantage.
12 riders managed to get through to complete lap number 7.
At the end of lap number 7, ADRIAN SMITH still had the lead, continuing to set the pace on the track.
The action on this lap centered on SIMON BICKNELL, moving up from number 10 to the number 7 spot - and on ANDY GAPLIN dropping 3 places - from number 9 to number 12. Rolling through the gates in second place was RORY MEAD, treating it like a rental - but still trailing by 3:10. Pushing to gain another spot was, RUEBEN VERMEER finishing lap 7 in third place. Could it be this easy ..... ROSS BIRD seemed to ghost through the checkpoint in fourth place. BARRY WILSON kept a cool head and staked a claim on fifth place, but with a 4:44 disadvantage.
In the end it was a good race, yet there was only one leader, with ADRIAN SMITH controlling the field throughout the race, with an average speed of 41.84 KMH.
Posted by: rossco 
