After the first round at Thetford last month round two of the National Points Series was my chance to have my revenge. The opening race of the series produced a shock result with some new faces at the front – could the likes of Jody Crawforth, Sam Gardener and Stuart Bowers do it again? I only managed to finish sixth, my lowest result in years.

As well as all the new names, the lottery-funded national team were riding at Catton. They’d missed Thetford as they were racing in America. Everyone should be in form as the World Cup rounds begin next week in Germany with the second round in Scotland a week later, so Catton promised to be a fast race.

The course was the same as last year but this time it had rained and was quite muddy. The Elite race didn’t start until 2.30 and had the best conditions of the day. The morning races where real mud-plugs, but by our start it was less sticky and drying out fast. The riders were
gridded according to their Thetford finish position, this meant the national team riders were a few rows back.

The gun was fired and we all charged across the grass fields. I made a good start in about third place, with Oli Beckingsale and Jody Crawforth nearby. After a short muddy descent, half way up the following climb most of us were forced to run for about 100m before we could remount. About half way around the lap the pace seemed too slow so I attacked. To my surprise no one came with me. I opened up a gap quickly – this was only lap one of five and I was expecting the national team riders to start to come through after a lap, so the more time I could gain the better.

To my surprise the first rider I saw behind me was my team-mate Elliot Baxter, who had escaped the field as well. He caught me and we rode together until I opened a gap on one of the muddy climbs. There was still no sign of the national team but Liam Killeen was closing fast. He caught me on lap three and we stayed together for half a lap until he drifted away from me. He was just going a little bit faster than I could/wanted to everywhere!

At the finish Liam had a good lead, I finished second and my Giant team-mates Elliot third & Paul Oldham fourth. This is probably Elliot’s best result since he was junior national champion. Thetford winner Jody Crawforth was fifth. Most of the national team didn’t finish the
race – I hope they can turn it around for the World Cups…