Jack shares this latest report from the Wightlink-LCM Systems Cycle Race Team. Ed
Racing at The Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth on Wednesday 27th July in the third cat race were Wightlink-LCM Systems CRT riders Ian Hayden, James Ebdon, Connor Ambrosini, Austin Head and Kev Foster.
A full field took to the circuit as Ebdon and Head tried to split the field several times but these attempts were eventually reeled in.
Latterly, Hayden and Head gained a 50 metre gap on the bunch with another rider, but with the organisers shortening the race, the trio were caught in the charge for the line.
Having put in this huge effort, the pair were unable to recover for the finishing sprint, and finished in the bunch alongside their teammates.
Elite race
Next in the elite race were Adam Holleyman and Matt Allsopp. A five rider group managed to make a break and stayed away for the duration of the race.
Unfortunately Holleyman and Allsopp were in the chasing pack and both had to work tirelessly to stop the five from gaining too much distance.
Coming into the final lap Allsopp gained several places as he sprinted for the line. A possible 10th place for him and another point towards retaining his 2nd cat licence.
Later that week on a sunny summer morning on 31st July, the first fourth Cat race for over two years was held at The Mountbatten Centre.
Chased down and neutralised
Wightlink-LCM Systems members Martin Sanders and Russell Thomson took to the track to try and gain more points to jump to third category.
As the race started a few riders went off the front to make a breakaway, but every attempt was chased down and neutralised. The race was sure to come down to a bunch sprint.
As the final lap bell was rang Sanders began to increase 
the pace, this stretched the bunch out. Thomson was sat pretty on Sanders’s wheel into the final corner and managed to deliver the perfect sprint winning by over three bike lengths.
Third cat race
Following Thomson’s win, his teammates Ian Hayden, Kev Foster and Sam Baker raced for 45 minutes in the third category event.
The trio used the strength of the team to try and weaken the opposition with repeated attacks and to get a break going; as the race unfolded it became clear that this tactic was not going to work.
With a change of plan, Hayden, Baker and Foster then proceeded to chase everything down and keep the bunch together for a sprint at the end, where despite being boxed Hayden managed to grab fifth place with a deserved tenth for Foster and Baker just behind.
50 minute Elite
In the 50 minute Elite, first and second category race, Stu Waite returned from his illness and started well, but unfortunately suffered a mechanical in the early laps which brought his race to a premature end.
As ever, the team would like to thank sponsors Wightlink, LCM Systems and Wight Mountain for their continued support.
Image: Russ Thomson; and Russ Thomson with Martin Sanders at the Mountbatten Centre
