February 7, 2015, McDowell Park Circuit Race, Category Masters 50+
NE of Phoenix, AZ 40 minutes
Report from Lionel Space, Phoenix AZ
We had beautiful weather for the 50+ race, 60s, sunny, and just a hint of wind.
About 24 of us were at the start line for this 40 minute race around the 1.6 mile course.
There would be 4 primes, but I was going to save my energy for the final placings.
This race had some prize money, where the 60+ race later on did not.
The main guy I was going to watch was Scott Conover.
He's a pretty strong guy, although he doesn't have a lot of race results from races of this type.
He had a smooth riding style and was occasionally calling out shots to his team mates, so he seemed pretty savvy.
A couple of laps in, a guy went solo for a prime and got a little gap.
Another rider joined him, but they just hung off the front.
So I pretty much just stayed with Scott.
A couple of laps later after absorbing those riders, a couple of riders got off the front and then a couple more joined them.
The pack still seemed to have lots of energy, so I hung back in anticipation of them not being successful.
However, half a lap later, some guys at the front began stalling the pace of the pack and let the gap get too big.
I was then concerned that this would be the winning break and they'd be taking home all the prize money.
I was in about 4th position on the back stretch and the lead riders were just soft pedaling it, so I took off to close the gap.
I got about 75% of it closed and I signaled for the rider that had gone with me to take a turn to help, which happened to be Scott.
He refused and said "I'm not helping you catch my team mate".
So I continued on, but didn't have quite enough to close the gap and fell back to the pack.
Unfortunately I had red-lined it too far and couldn't muster the reserves to hang onto the back of the pack, which really wasn't going all that fast.
I slipped off the back and then just packed it in, only 20 minutes into the race.
So team tactics got me this time.
I heard later that the break eventually got caught and then another break was successful, so in hindsight I should have been more patient.
But I've lost races before on this course from missing the break, so you never know.
Back of the Tee Shirt that the Staff were wearing (and were kind enough to give me one):
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