AUGUST 12, 2010 RACE SUMMARIES
Full Race Results
Rain shortened the race schedule this evening, but eight of the twelve scheduled races were completed before the deluge.
Men Cat 1/2 (12 riders)
The Cat 1/2 riders warmed up with the first race of the evening, a 15-lap scratch race. The race started off at a moderate pace and immediately went into a pace line. Every time Tim Mulrooney (Synergy) was at the front, the pace increased. With 3 laps to go, Texas Roadhouse team mates Pat Lemieux and Colton Barrett were at the front driving the line. With 2 laps to go Sean Vig (Speedfix) tried to advance on the outside, but was unable to overcome Lemieux and Barrett. At the gun Barrett took off taking Andy Kruse (Speedfix). They crossed the line in that order with Dan Schuller (Gopher Wheelmen) and Dan Frederick (American Anti-Aging) leading in the rest.
Six riders advanced from Keirin heats to the final for the night’s Salsa King of the Sprint race. Chris Ferris (PJW Racing) took the motorcycle wheel from the pole position and, when the motor left with 2½ laps to go, he immediately swung up to let Lemieux take the lead. Ferris was able to drop into a gap just behind Lemieux. At the bell, Ferris rode around Lemieux taking Frederick but holding him off to the line. Lemieux was out of gas and Kruse, Schueller, and Mike Hall (Behind Bars/LGR) rode around him for 3rd to 5th.
Men Cat 3 (12 riders)
A brutal point-a-lap race started things out for the Cat 3 racers. At the gun, Gopher Wheelmen team mates Rich Bergstrom and Dan Jacobsen took off, Bergstrom getting the first lap and Jacobsen the second. Jason Goldberg (Bianchi/GP) and Mark Leppke (Behind Bars/Little Guy Racing) also took laps until, with 7 to go, Nate Brennaman (Birchwood) took the race in hand and rode off the front to take the next five laps. Calculating that this was enough for the race win, Brennaman eased back into the group. Greg Lavick (Synergy) took two laps and junior rider Jordan Cullen (Flanders) took the final, but Brennaman took the race. Lavick’s 2 laps were good enough for second and Cullen took 3rd.
The Cat 3 Miss and Out started at a high pace. Most of the early lead riders were spit out the back with a few unable to advance on the inside. Goldberg was the last to be left behind and took 5th for the race. With only 4 riders left, Jacobsen was eliminated when the others swept around him. Brennaman ran out of gas to take 3rd. In the final sprint, Bergstrom was unable match Cullen’s surge to take the win.
Men Cat 4/5 (16 riders)
The Cat 4/5 10-lap scratch race took off at a brisk pace and stayed fast to the end. With 3 laps to go, Tonka cycling team mates Kevin Lennon and Eric Ware went to the front and led out the final sprint. at the bell Ware was leading but was passed by Merrill Lutsky (Silver Cycling) and Brian Duncan (Bianchi/GP). Lutsky took the win going away with Ryan Brown (unattached) edging out Duncan for 2nd place.
Early eliminations in the Cat 4/5 miss were riders spit out the back or caught inside; the common causes for elimination. John McGuire (unattached) was able to hold on for 5th but was out of gas as was Lennon who finished 4th. Kai Curry (unattached) was out-sprinted at the line and took 3rd. Curry and Lennon’s finishing order was reversed after the race as Curry was judged to have interfered with Lennon at the line and was relegated. That left Lutsky and Jeff Anderson (Loon State) battling for the win. With 200 meters to go, Lutsky kicked it in. Anderson hesitated just enough for Lutsky to get a small gap which he maintained for the win. A good night for the junior racer Merrill Lutsky.
Women (7 riders)
The women warmed up with a 12-lap Tempo race (2/1 points for the first two across the line each lap). After Terra James took the first two laps, it was largely Bianchi/GP team mates Emma Bast and Melissa Dahlmann duking it out for points on the remaining laps with Bianca Bergmann (Texas Roadhouse) taking two sprints. When the dust settled, Bast over Dahlmann 15 points to 10 with Bergmann taking 3rd over James by order in the final sprint.
Dahlman drew the pole position in the 500 meter (2 lap) chariot race with Bergmann next to her in 2nd position. At the gun, Bergmann had the better start and was able to get ahead of Dahlmann and take the sprinter’s lane out of the first turn. Bergmann continued to accelerate through the first lap and had a 2 meter gap at the bell which she was able to maintain to the end for the win. In the last lap Bast edged out Dahlmann who took 3rd over James.