After another hour drive to the alkek velodrome I was exited to be able to use my teammates aero wheels for the night of the race. I was able to borrow his rear disk along with a front tri-spoke, so I figured that I'll be going pretty fast today. That all changed however, as I was getting registered for my races I heard the organizers say that they were unable to get power to the track. That means that they can't get the lights working which also means that they're going to cut the night in half >:(. What that meant was that there was only going to be 2 races per category and 4 races for me. my first race of the night was a short 10 lap scratch in the Jrs. As all the juniors lined up at the wall I noticed Alan Ting was going to race with the Jrs today. This was good because it was going to make for a very fast race. any way as the race started I was on the attack (what's new?) however I couldn't get away on any of my attacks and I got ether 3 or fourth in the sprint. The next race was the most un-race like race there. it was a 3 lap handicap in the 123s. Any way once everybody got there distances I was 30 meters in front of the un handicapped rider which by the way was Alan Ting. as the race started I sprinted as hard as I could to get on big Eric's wheel but couldn't close the gap. after one lap Ting caught me and got on my wheel thinking that I could close the gap in front of me. Soon the gap started to get bigger and Alan saw this so he sprinted around me to close the gap by himself. I was now by my self when teammate Dan passed me and I just pulled my self out on the last lap. It was a pretty pathetic effort on my half knowing I couldn't close 10 meters. The next and also the final race for the Jr category was a 12 lap points race with sprints on every 3rd lap. As the race started I decided to race this race a little smarter and sit in for the majority of the race. any way, in most of the sprints it was all Rasche and Ting with me getting an occasional second in the sprints. it was the very last lap that I was able to get first in the sprint and get second overall in terms of points. The next race I did was also the final race of the night. it was a 30 lap scratch race in the 123s (ya I know, they cut my favorite race in half). any way... the race started and I did a few attacks from the back of the pack to try to set Dan up for an even stronger counter attack. but to no success nothing was able to stick. The field was letting nothing go off of the front. with 1 and a half laps to go tilson put in a strong attack and the field wasn't strong enough to go, except Alan Ting who jumped right on the guys wheel. as the final 200m came I was in the center of the field sprint and got ether 4th or 6th place. and Alan won the sprint in his 2 man break.
Recappractice sprinting on the track because I suck at it... also make better team tactics in the longer races besided attack/counter attack.
special thanks to Dan for taking me to yet another race and to James Smith for letting me borrow his aero wheels
