TRACK CYCLING

Leslie Brothers, McCarty fight it out for under 13 honours

By Nick Warren

Ben Leslie scored a massive 23 Burkes Cycles Speed League points at round six of the weekly track racing Summer Series, held at Wellington Velodrome on Sunday March 8, to put him top of the under 13 overall competition. While Ben won all four D grade events from the 4 lap Handicap Scratch to the more complex Devilish Point-a-lap - a combination of a points and elimination race - he was pushed close by brother Jake (8) and season newcomer Matt McCarty (12).

Also in the mix were Amelia Taylor and Ruby Straugheir who both grabbed second places in the Handicap and Devilish Point-a-lap respectively.

Ben Leslie now tops the under 13 table with 77 points, just six ahead of Jake. McCarty is another six points behind but has rapidly risen up the table since starting the Speed League in January. There are two weekends of racing to go which are now set to be a showdown between the three youngsters.

Also wide open is the men's The Lanes Sprint Ace competition. Regan Bang and Max Uivel are both now tied in second spot on eight points each, one point behind current leader Louis Higgison who has moved away for the rest of the season. The duo were pitted against each other in the one-on-one Sprint Ace ride off this weekend and it was Uivel who used his impressive jump for a comfortable victory.

Ele Pepperell showed a clean pair of wheels to Lisa Hunkin in the women's The Lanes Sprint Ace ride off, stamping her authority on the event which she has won for the past two years.

Long time senior men's leader Grant Perry was finally overhauled this week, as Nick Warren scored a win in the Devilish Point-a-Lap and a second in the 10 lap Scratch to move one point ahead in the overall standings. Perry was unstoppable in the first half of the season, amassing 91 Speed League points before being sidelined after breaking his collarbone.

However, there's still everything to play for with Warren missing next weekend's events, and a slew of riders within 20 points of the top keen to pull on the coveted white Champion System leader's jersey.

Mark Coburn and Ian Lewis won their respective B and C grade Sprinters Scratch races while Josh Wrigley took out the 8 lap A, B and C Handicap Scratch.

In a rare appearance at the Burkes Cycles Speed League, Jordan Lewis sprinted to a fine win in a feisty 20 laps Team Scratch.

The Burkes Cycles Speed League continues with round 7 of the Summer Series on March 15 at Wellington Velodrome in Hataitai.


Burkes Cycles Speed League 2015 Summer Series Category Leaders:
Senior/ Under 19: Jason McCarty & Bruce Cook (41 points)
Female: Ele Pepperell (34 points)
Under 17: Grace Saywell (44 points)
Under 15: Amelia Taylor (33 points)
Under 13: Matt McCarty (65 points)

Burkes Cycles Speed League 2014/5 OVERALL Category Leaders:
Senior/ Under 19: Nick Warren (92 points)
Female: Lisa Hunkin (58 points)
Under 17: Grace Saywell (106 points)
Under 15: Henry Tate (86 points)
Under 13: Ben Leslie (77 points)

The Lanes Sprint Ace (men): Louis Higgison
The Lanes Sprint Ace (women): Ele Pepperell
Zeal Commercial Interiors Teams Prize: Capital Cycles Dame Truth (280 points)

Full results from round 6.
Burkes Cycles Speed League tables.
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