Oulton Park Round 2

Oulton park races always prove to increase in quality and racing as the series progress and last night was no exception. It is becoming a fanscinating battle between the teams with strong riders from Maxgear, St.Helens RC, Team Elite and Team Mullen (One man army) and Liverpool Century.

The first 3 laps were subdued but it didn't take long for a break to form. Tim Brammeier asked me to lead him to the front as we hit the start/finish line, as we were moving up the the front an attack went off and Tim was perfectly placed to jump in with Sean Hughes in tow. This break massed to about 10 riders and myself and 2 Maxgear lads sat on the front as all the main players had riders in the break. But the break wouldn't work together and it wasn't long till the bunch swallowed them back up.

One of my ill fated breaks with the winner Ryan Mullen on my wheel

I was doing the job for the Century of policing any breaks and trying to get in them. I got into the first break with Ryan Mullen and 4 others, but this was shortlived. A few other breaks got away but without of of the teams riders in it, so they were no danger and were pulled back in each time. As we neared the last few remaining laps the pace increased significantly as the teams repeadtedly attacked and a significant crash on the start/finish line saw a brief split in the field helping a break form with the strong riders present, unfortunately no Century riders were in it. Tim suffered in this crash as one of the fallen riders caught his rear wheel and wrecked it. This was the danger point as 8 riders were away but somehow it didn't stick and as we caught them Ryan jumped away and I rolled past the leaders and onto his wheel to be joined by Dan Whelan and John Rigby plus a Wrexham rider. But once again this break was caught and it was all back together with 2 laps to go. So it was all going to be decided on a bunch sprint.

The pace was pretty fast and it was all the familiar faces at the front and as the bunch swelled and thinned as the pace slightly changed, the tension built as everyboy is looking left and right for the attack. But it was a straight forward assault and it was a battle of the strongest legs....Ryan Mullens legs. He powered away to take the bunch gallop, followed by Mike Rawson, John Rigby with Sean in 6th and myself in 8th or 9th??

Ryan Mullen powers to the win

Phil Garton-Pope showed himself to be a strong rider again and did his fair share of work following and chasing. Andy Brookfield and John Aktinson both stuck in and worked hard to finish.



Andy Bennett off the front



Martin Moore  looking comfortable

In the other races Claudia Witzig finished her first outing at Oulton Park and was only 10m from getting a win before the bunch stormed past...a feeling many of us know well. Martin Moore and Peter Grace both were racing but I didn't catch there results. In the final race Vince Bennett finished top 10 with a strong kick. Century Life members Andy Bennett and Duff Fawcett also raced and I am yet to find out where they ended up!

Aki, Phil and Andy

All in all some great, fun racing