Jack shares this latest report from Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team. Ed
On Tuesday 21st June, Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team riders, Matthew Allsopp and Dave Cooper, went to Goodwood for the eighth summer series circuit race.
Cooper competed in the 3/4th category race of 11 laps, which lasted for an hour with an average speed of 27mph. Cooper stayed near the front for most of the race and covered several attacks. He finished just outside of the points in the bunch sprint.
Allsopp competed in the E12 race which covered 13 laps. There was a smaller field of riders which meant for plenty of attacks.
Eventually a four man break got away leaving Allsopp with a group of 16 riders, all of whom had teammates in the break so weren’t willing to help chase them down.
The group of 16 eventually filtered down to ten towards the final lap. Allsopp decided to make a final attempt to get away from the group which was looking good until the last 100 metres, where he was swamped on the line by the chasing group. He finished 11th.
E12 at Portsmouth Mountbatten race circuit
On Wednesday 22nd June Allsopp and Stu Waite went to Portsmouth Mountbatten race circuit for the E12 race which was 45 minutes plus five laps.
The race started off at a fast pace dropping riders on each lap and the leaders group with Allsopp and Waite soon whittled down to 10 riders.
Waite had been struggling with illness and got dropped off the back but Allsopp went to the front to slow the group down.
Waite carried on riding strongly to hold other riders off to finish in 10th place gaining a point with Allsopp finishing 7th amongst a strong field of sprinters.
A return to Mountbatten
Wednesday 29th June, Allsopp was in action again when he went back to the Mountbatten track to compete in the E12 race.
There was another small field of 15 riders competing over the 45 minutes plus 5 laps race.
Allsopp attacked early with another rider to try and make a break from the main group which lasted for a few laps until chased down by the main group. A counter attack of four riders then got away and eventually lapped the bunch of 6 riders which included Allsopp.
Allsopp eventually finished 6th and gained points for his licence.
E12 at Goodwood
On Tuesday 5th July, Wightlink-LCM Systems and regular racer Allsopp went to Goodwood to race in the E12 cat race.
The race was 13 laps and averaged 27.5mph, a fast race. Allsopp got in a break away on the first lap which had good riders in but only lasted a lap until the field chased it down.
After a few more attempts of getting away Allsopp decided to sit in the group for the last couple of laps and compete for the win in a bunch sprint.
He narrowly missed out with a foot between the winner, Allsopp and five other riders it came down to a photo finish.
Back to Mountbatten
On Wednesday 6th July, James Ebdon, Kev Foster and Ian Hayden competed in the 3rd category race at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.
The trio were active from the gun, covering breakaways and attacking themselves. After 15 minutes of racing, Ebdon bridged across to a group of three riders.
The quartet worked well together for the remainder of the 40 minute plus three laps race.
Hayden and Foster waited in the bunch, covering any attacks that tried to bring Ebdon back. On the last lap, Ebdon used his experience well, timing his sprint perfectly to take the win comfortably.
Later that evening, Allsopp and Waite competed in the E12 race.
Waite punctured and had to take a spare wheel, but fought back to get seventh place. Allsopp contested a close sprint finish and got third on the line. After all this racing the Wightlink-LCM rider is well on his way to getting the points he needs.
Image: © Karl Twort – Matt Allsopp in action
