Rico Rogers, Brent Woodluck, Bike Force Marketing Guru Heath Jackson, Nick Walker and Nick Misfud were the winners of the Bike Force Points Series

What a finish to the huge Bike Force Points Series with both the Men and Women going down to the wire. Bike Force came up big time with the largest prize pool SKCC has ever seen.

In the Men Brent Woodlock racing in C Grade came out on top after 4 very consistent performances and previous winner Rico Rogers who missed one race stormed home to claim 2nd just ahead on Nick Walker who blew it in the last race and didn’t score any points. Nick Mifsud from Brunswick came up big in the last race to secure 4th with Ben Lougland also from B sneaking home for 5th.

The Women went down to the wire and it was a 2 horse race between Nicole “The Goddess of Thunder” Whitburn and Jenny MacPherson. Nicole got the win on the last race to get herself maximum points to seal the win. Alison McCormack came from nowhere and only raced 2 of the Series Races but managed maximum points in both to secure 3rd, and it was 3 way tie for 4/5 with Fiona Carden, Elizabeth Doueal and Andrea Frankpitt all tired on equal points.

A-Mack, J-Mac & The Goddess of Thunder all cleaned up with big prizes thanks to Bike Force.  Alison McCormack, Jenny MacPherson and Nicole Whitburn pictured with Heath Jackson from Bike Force

A big thanks must go to Bike Force who provided all the prize money plus numerous spot prizes throughout the Series. Don’t forget if you want to have a chance of winning a beautiful Italian thoroughbred – Pinarello then make sure you turn up to the Bike Force Docklands BBQ Friday 30 March from 6:30 – 8:00pm further details will be provided soon.

Lee “Hollywood” Turner leads teammate Stuart Hill in the chase

The weather was hot, windy and just plain tough. A Grade men didn’t waste any time and the attacks went but nothing seriously threatened and why would it, who would want to be stuck out there in that type of heat.  The first Bike Force sprint was won by Stuart Hill (Sole Devotion) with a bold move once the mini break was brought back by his Sole Devotion team mate Lee “Hollywood” Turner. The second Bike Force Sprint was won by David Kelly (Total Rush) when he just ate the field and rode away from the bunch. 

O2 big man Andrew Silwka looking not too happy with team mate David “Dynamite” Loakes after the race

Stuart Hill who is training for the Melbourne Ironman ran 32km the day before in the soaring heat but still had life left in his old legs to mount another bold attack with 5 minutes to go and he and his breakaway counterparts were only caught in the last half of the last lap as the powerful O2 Networks train started to roll along.

Stuart “Nutragrain” Hill – The form is coming

All eyes were on the big show Ray “God not only made me beautiful but fast” Forbes (Total Rush) as he has been the absolute form rider of the last 4 weeks but they forgot about Rico Rogers who despite sitting 8thwheel into the last corner proved why he is heading overseas next week and still managed to ride past the train and Ray Forbes to claim a massive win. Ray Forbes held on for 2ndwith the O2 sensation David “Dynamite” Loakes 3rd; the powerful Aaron Salisbury came home 4th.

The A Grade Podium (not you Heath) Rico Rogers, Razor Ray Forbes and Dynamite David Loakes
 
Women’s A Grade was on from the start with the Total Rush team looking the goods when first Tania Mattherson attacked and had a massive lead but that was gradually brought back then it was time for her team mate Carly Williams to launch another attack but the bunch was onto it and Carly was brought back quickly.  Bec Domange despite retiring more times than Danny Green took out the first sprint in impressive fashion on the second Bike Force Sprint it was the powerful Jenny MacPherson who took the win just ahead of Nicole Whitburn.

On the bell lap Justyna Lubkowski (SKCC / Giant) made a bold attempt to get off the front to surprise the sprinters but she was caught and it was down to the powerful duo of Jenny MacPherson and Nicole Whitburn with Nicole Whitburn powering her Giant machine across the line first to take out a very impressive win which in turn secured her the win in the Bike Force Points Series.

The O2 Networks debrief after the race – They are clearly the most PRO team going around

Men’s B Grade saw the Artisan team swap Glenvale for SKCC and they did not disappoint as they were in every move and when they weren’t they worked hard to shut it down.  Will Williamson, Dan Cherry, Sam Pickering and Nirangjan Nagarajah all rode superbly. Rick Horvat (Bike Gallery) worked well in the break that was established with Michael Neal (Becoz) and others. Dan “The Wilko Show” Wilkins pulled out mid race due to the fact he thought his team mate Rick Horvat was safe in the break.

Lachlan Davidson worked hard throughout the race and won the second Bike Force Sprint. With 3 to go the small break was working hard but the fire of Will Williamson and the peloton was chasing down on them hard and by the bell lap they only had 60 metres. Nick Mifsud was a monster on the front driving to catch the break and in the end not only caught the break but had just enough petrol to pull out a monster sprint to just get the win ahead of Jesse Fergie 2nd and Cameron Winton 3rd.

Alison McCormack (Capo / Northside Wheelers)  looks beautiful even under pressure as she takes the 2^ndBike Force Sprint

In Women’s B Grade the Alison McCormack (Capo / Northside Wheelers) show rolled back into town with her impressive record all eyes were on her as she didn’t race last week. She stuck to her winning preparation of the Hell Ride on Saturday and looked impressive and in good touch. In the first intermediate Bike Force sprint Nicole Schneller got the jump and took the win in front of Alison but on the second Bike Force Sprint Alison returned the favour and took it out. Alison again did not shy away from work and marked nearly every move.

Fiona Neurwith looked strong and at times looked like the one to beat. Kat Lee was super impressive and was always on the front but with the hard work she paid the price and faded in the second half of the race.  Coming into the bell lap it looked like it was going to be a battle between regular B Grade superstar Danielle Ahern and the glamorous Alison McCormack. Alison hit out hard on the back straight into the deadly hot head wind in a courageous move and came into the last corner first. In the sprint to the line Alison was too powerful and strong as she rode away to record her second B Grade win which has earnt her a ticket into A Grade. Carolyn Phillips who too had worked hard throughout the race took a hard earnt and hard fought second.

The sprint to the line in Women’s B Grade has Alison rocketing away early

Men’s C Grade was all about Brent Woodlock as he needed the win to help secure the overall win in the Bike Force Points Series and he started out well by taking the first Bike Force intermediate Sprint. The second sprint was taken out by unknown rider Jonathan Dredge in strong fashion.  The new improved and slimmed down Costa Chronis was hard to spot because he now has the body of Frank Schlek, Costa was busy throughout the race as too big hitter Chris Handley. In the end it was a desperate Brent Woodlock who took the win ahead of Jonathan Dredge with the consistent Shaun Sutcliffe 3rd.

The SKCC president Anthony Seipolt taking a breather after ride marshalling in every race

In Women’s C Grade it was billed a battle between Carrie Lim and Nicky St Clair (SBR) as both had won over the last 2 weeks. Nicky spent a lot of time near the front and tried to getaway numerous times. Carrie Lim got the start she needed and took out the first Bike Force sprint in impressive fashion and only just missed the second sprint which was won by the strong Caroline Phillips. In the bell lap it was anyone’s race but Nicky St Clair (SBR) was just too good to take the win in front of Warragul’s Caroline Clarke with Carrie Lim just back.

Nicky St Clair (SBR) powers to the win in Women’s C with Caroline Clarke and Carrie Lim hot on her tail

Men’s D Grade was set at a cracking pace yet again but the story of the day was the form and improvement of Peter Canny. Peter was in absolutely everything and looked like a man possessed or a man full of EPO, THG, HGH and Clentbutol. Heath Christie (Hoax Racing) looked a million dollars as per usual and young gun Adam McGillivray (Campagnolo) was always in the action. Simon Cannington looked good and a win surely mustn’t be far away. Luke Poyser is a strong rider who will improve with better positioning.

Willie Rasin-Shaw and Jarrad Lory-Smith (Sole Devotion) getaway in an early break

However today was about Peter and he was in every break and on the bell lap tried to lead his Total Rush team mate Chris Mackay out and opened up a gap on the bunch but in the race to the line Gordon Duff took a great win ahead of Lee Lindsay 2^nd, James Callahn 3^rdwith Ethan York 4^thwith peter Canny just back.

Chris McKay (Total Rush) giving a stylish radiant looking Lee ‘Canary’ Turner the run down after his race.

E Grade had a small field of 14 starters but that didn’t stop a great race which saw a Healey sandwich with Ben Healey take his first win ahead of Fenton Healey.

Male or female?  I’m not sure what they were searching for on Ernie’s body 🙂

This week is the Neo Metro / Beller Single Speed Carnival where it’s time to bring out the bling. Thanks to Kristy Baxter, Robert Moore and Simon Meager for the photos.