Magnier does it Again!
Winner of the 2006/07 Newport Track League
When the final
Newport City Track League takes place on Tuesday the 27th of March
2007 a new champion will be crowned.
Brooks Cycles’
Andrew Magnier easily claimed victory from both of the Rowe brothers (Luke and
Matt) who have recently signed for the Recycling.co.uk professional racing team.
With Luke Rowe,
the early runaway leader on 100 points not competing since February, this opened
the door for Magnier (Brooks Cycles) to steal the march on Rowe and claim the
trophy.
During the
previous week’s Track League Magnier started the night on 98 points and as the
nights racing unfolded he was having a mare of an evening with three 4th’s and
two 3rd places to give him 2 points and his worst result for the season.
But a week
later on March the 6th Andy showed why he has won the Brooks Cycles Track
League at the Newcastle-under-Lyme track for the past two seasons when he
blasted past Rhys Lloyd and Mike Webb to claim victory in the 20Lap Scratch.
Second race up was the 2k dash, which is always
a difficult one for the endurance boys as there is guaranteed to be a sprinter
lurking some where near but not on the front with 2 laps to go. Sure enough
Magnier held off Lloyd but could not stop Luc Jones (Newtredegar Nomads) doing
what he does best and winning by the narrowest of margins to deny Magnier the
maximum points. With three races still to tell their story, Magnier has 5 out
of a possible 6 points
Brooks Cycles Track League Champion 2005 and 2006
The all up
Devil is a unique race to Newport
with the A league racing until 5 riders remain. The race is neutralised and the
B’s are introduced before battle recommences. Whittle it back down to 5 riders
and then the C’s jump in. With one rider out every other lap, this can be a
gruelling 10 miles or more to win from the A’s.
The master of
the all up devil is Rhys Lloyd but he had to settle for third, as Magnier did
not release his vice like grip on the night and won with Dane Percival (Cardiff
Ajax CC) splitting him from Lloyd.
On to the
penultimate race of the night, the 30 lap points race with sprints every 6 laps
Magnier yet again dominated events taking three of the five sprints to win
again from Lloyd and Webb. The highest score of the season (15) was attained by
Rowe on 30 January, but if Magnier was to win the Madison with partner Jon Mould, this would
give him a 16 for the night, however the pair could only finish in third.
A week later
saw the track bursting as the maximum number of competitors (24) took to the
line for the final race of the night.
An open race looked to be ahead as any one of 10
riders could be our victor. As Eddie Malarczyk sounded his whistle to signal
“Race On”, the first attack was launched by Mike Webb (Cardiff Ajax CC).
Webb opened up an impressive 100m gap in the first lap, but what he lacked was
company. With 49 laps on the board, 100m lead on your lonesome and 23 riders,
riding in Indian file behind you is not a good position. This was what must
have been going through Webb’s head as he surrendered his lead after a lonely
1000m
Dominating the Track, Andy is now focusing on the Road
The pace was
relentless. No one up the road. No one off the back. They don’t care. All 24
riders take their half lap turns. The 2nd kilometre is run off in a 1.09 and
the third only slightly slower in a 1.10. Back to a 1.09 and then the first
signs that not all wish to continue in this vein. A few short turns, a few
riders flicking out of the line to avoid their turn and with 38 laps still to
race every rider is above the blue line.
This is the
chance the Cwmcarn Duo of Ben Simons and Andrew Williams have been waiting for.
A team attack is on and Simons sets up a handsome lead. Williams keeps the
pressure on and a full straights advantage is the result of their endeavours.
There is no let up behind. Like an arrow its business as usual, the chasing
bunch is drilling it down the black line. Luc Jones our resident sprinter and
Katie Curtis the only Lady entrant both putting in big turns to bring it all
back together with 27 laps to run.
It’s all change
at the front as Simons and Williams are replaced by Mike Webb and Dane Percivil
(Both Cardiff Ajax C C). Can the Cardiff
duo fair any better than their Cwmcarn opposition. Into the final 6k and their
advantage is 50m. Two laps later and Alex Tinsley (Wyre Forest)
bridges across single handed to bolster the breaks numbers. With 5k still to
race and the advantage has grown by 10m but cracks are showing in the break.
With 18 laps to race and Rob Palmer (The
Bicycleworks.com) attacks the bunch, rides past the break and strikes for home.
Palmer’s efforts have given him a small advantage and signalled the end for
Webb, Percivil and Tinsley. Two laps further on and Palmer still has his
slender advantage. A further two laps and its Webb who pulls Palmer back, just
as Palmer had done to Webb earlier. There now follows a few gentle laps as the
race readies its self for the final 3k
Magnier specialises in pure domination!
No real
activity follows and the lap board now shows single figures and still no one is
inclined to chance their arm. Eight laps to race, no change, seven laps to go
and still no activity. 1500m to race and Osian Meilyr (C C Cardiff|) picks up
the pace. Meilyr is tracked by Andrew Magnier (Brooks Cycles) for a lap. As
Meilyr swings up the banking at the end of a hard turn Magnier opens the
throttle all the way. The race is blown apart. Two’s, three’s and four’s are
everywhere. The bad news for Magnier is he still has company, 750m to go and we
have a lead group of Magnier, Jones, Dominic Jelfs (MJS racing), Percivil and
James Norman (Cardiff Ajax C C).
Down the back
straight with one and a half laps to go and Magnier is going hard. He is
tracked by Percivil, Norman, Jones and Jelfs. Through the bell and Jones makes
a big strike for home. Behind Jelfs makes an even bigger strike to come around
Jones for a clear 3 length win. Jones is comfortable in second, Magnier holds
on for third and strengthens his position in the over all standings.
This result
means Magnier goes into Tuesday’s league with an unassailable lead to claim yet
another Track League victory and take a step further on the road to stardom!
For information
on Newport Track League contact Courtney Rowe on 07837 201418
