Hey all, here's our Thursday night report! We had three in the A field, with Emile, Marty and myself. Marty wasn't feeling too peppy, so volunteered to work for us, and Emile and i agreed to defend whomever was off the front.

First up was a 36 lap (12km) Scratch race. We sat in the first half, nothing exciting occurred, there was a big bunch (11 riders), so it was mainly sticking together. It was at that point that i realized that i was feeling good, and several riders were looking a bit tired..and i remembered that i need to be attacking -- i need to practice attacking more and more! So WHAM, i'm off. Pull a lap at high speed, bust up the pack a bit...off the front i fall back into 4th position, and at the front i keep the speed up again...but after another lap or two, it all slows down...so i attack again! I repeat a few more times, until with 7 laps to go, Emile blasts away from the group. Two people in front of me at the front, and a lap later when i'm at the front, i cruise.... Emile gets a full quarter lap away - woot! Marty and i are now committed to defending!

Chad at that points tries to sprint by. I accelerate, and am on his wheel. He pulls a fast lap, then i'm at the front again, and ease up the pace......i pull up and off the front. The pace increases...another rider attacks out of the pack -- i'm on his wheel. When he pulls off, once more, i slow it down. The pack is getting closer, and just couple laps remain. One lap to go, i'm back on the front, holding the pack back for Emile........ Chris A attacks!! I jump on his wheel through corner 1 & 2, at corner 4 i pump it out! We're quickly gaining on Emile, but he gets to the line with a few meters to spare. I surge past Chris for 2nd, woot!!! An OA 1-2 Punch!!!!

Next race is a 20 Lap Snowball. In this race, each lap is worth points - specifically the number of the lap. So the 1st lap is 1pt, 5th lap is 5pts, final lap 20pts. Rider with the most points at the end wins.

First lap, we let a Roland dangle off the front. Marty then charges up and take lap 2. I then overtake Marty. Come the line, i get nipped by Chad - frack! I remain on the front, and again, Chad nips me! I'm trying to conserve, so i pull off the front, and Chad goes unchallenged for another two laps... I get my revenge, and nab him for the 7th. HA! I pull up, and let Emile go for a sprint, and he easily gets lap 8. A rider at that point attacks, but Marty jumps in, catching him at the line! Marty holds it for another lap, collecting 10pts there. Unfortunately, it was a bit much for him, and he ended up getting lapped, but he did an awesome job defending the team and taking points away from other riders.

My nemisis from last year, Mike Cooper, then overtook the front for the 11th sprint. Not to be outdone, i nab 12th. Chris A, who's been sitting in BOTH races taking zero pulls, charges away for number 13, but Emile is on his wheel, and blasts past!! Emile gets away and collects 14 & 15. I'm trying to defend at this point, but while i was at the back of the pack, Marcus charged away from the chase group, and catches Emile and nabs the 16th sprint. Emile retaliates, and gets #17 and #18, solidifying his victory. Two laps remaining, Chris A blasts away, once more when i'm a bit back in the pack - frack!! The chase isn't too motivated, Chris easily nabs #19, far from the pack. We continue to chase, and with a half lap to go, i power away! I clear the riders, and am bearing down on Chris A. 30 meters remain, and i'm just about to pass him, before the line, when a black and red rider flashes by a good 10kph faster than me (!!) -- Mike Cooper once again tears away my victory!!! That would have put me in 2nd once more, but i ended up with 4th. GRRR!! At least Emile got the victory!!

Overall, of the 20 sprints, OA collected the points from half of them. Kick ass. =)

In the overall points, Emile is on the front in 1st with 53pts. Chris A has 2nd place with 50pts, and i'm in third with 39pts, 9pts ahead of the next rider (Chad.) In the team competition, OA is totally dominating. My form is starting to take shape, and hopefully i'll surpass Chris in the next month or so. Marty, with his solid Keirin action, is tied for 6th, and currently one point away from 5th. Old man Dave Mercer will be tough to overcome tho...

Next Thursday is our Epic Points Race, Emile and i will doubtless bust up the pack, and will try to lap the field.

G'nite all!

- Dave