Homecoming and MSG Round 5

Apologies - this post is a little late, approximately a week or so. My life's been a bit hectic of late, I simply haven't had time to update my blog. As I've said before, I hate writing retrospectively. I like to write my blog whilst it's all still fresh in my head.

Anyways, first of all, Jay is finally home! Seeing him again was a bit surreal at first, but it wasn't long before we were in front of the TV playing games haha! It's like he had never left. He's got so many stories, which I'm slowly extracting out of him. We haven't had a chance to sit and go through his photos yet, but I'm looking forward to that! We've seen quite a lot of each other lately. He came round the weekend he got back, and again the following weekend to watch the race, which brings me on to my next topic, my race report...

I still get awful pre-race nerves... I felt so sick in the car on the way down. In fact, I think getting me out of the house and into the car is harder than actually racing. Once I'm on the grid I'm fine. I haven't chickened out yet, and I won't either. It's one of my season objectives to race and complete every single round (if possible). The training lap was, interesting... The first thing I noticed was that the course was very treacherous. Lots of little holes in blind spots and loose bits. I'd say it was fairly technical actually, for an MSG race at least. I remember saying to Tony that we'd have to look after each other if we rode together and overtake cleanly. I can imagine it would be all too easy to end up in a pool of toxic sludge if you got carried away! 

The race, the race went really really well for me, except from the very start, and the very end. I had problems clipping in, which I think cost me about 10 places or so, Tom couldny believe his luck when he came past me. Unfortunately for him, it was short lived. Me and Tony had grouped up and were making our way through the pack. By the first climb, Tom was history - never to be seen again. Until the end of the race that is! Tony and I were absolutely smashing it, taking turns on the front and working together. We were putting a lot of pressure on people until they eventually cracked. It felt good to be the one doing the overtaking, rather than being overtaken. It proves the training has been doing something at least. 

To say I didn't get a good start was an understatement!

Tony and I exchanged places a couple of times in the last lap. My "oh so great" plan was to beat him to the last bit of the single track, back off a little bit, and then beat him in the sprint finish. I'm a pretty good sprinter, and rarely lose. It was all going to plan, until the last corner. I was just coming out of the single track and about to start my sprint to find a woman on the racing line, I shouted "on your right" and she kinda panicked and pulled out in front of me. Tony couldn't believe his luck, and just went around the outside with a cheeky grin on his face. I'm pretty sure he paid her off lol! I was a bit disappointed, but this is racing - sometimes things don't go to plan. But, I quickly got over it when I found out that we'd finished 9th and 10th! Not bad at all! I was really pleased! My goal for the season had been smashed (to finish in the top ten), three races ahead of schedule. Now I need to push to get as close to that bottom step as possible, but it won't be easy, especially with the last few rounds being so cramped up! Watch out Dan, I'm coming for you!

On it like Sonic yo!

It was nice having Jay with us, Kirsty's mum and dad even made the trip and came down to watch which was really cool! Unfortunately I couldn't hang around to cheer my team mates on this time, but from what I understand Will got second after beating Liam in a sprint finish, and Darren DNF'd after a mechanical. I have told him several times that he should of brought a Cannondale! 

For those of you who follow this blog, but don't really care about the cycling side of it... with Jay being home, I will be accessing my goals, and seeing how I've gotten on in my next post!