In a break from his civilian club RNRMCA rider CPO JJ Smith crosses the line first at the recent SW District Championships.

RNRMCA Rider Crowned BCF South West Champion.

The 20th September saw the largest gathering of Elite riders in the South West for the South West Circuit Race Championships.  The event was held at Merryfield Airstation a large airfield ideal for circuit racing.  

Circuit races are usually held at race tracks or airfields and are generally flat and fast.  They are often technical and require an ability to accelerate and decelerate very quickly and repeatedly whilst watching every move.

RNRMCA were represented by CPO MA JJ Smith. Smith now a Cat 1 rider has spent much of the last 2 seasons riding for civilian teams due to the logistical benefits. However he donned his RNRMCA kit and rode his second claim club for the event.

The race was longer than most circuit races at a time of 90 mins + 1 lap.  Smith used this to his advantage feeling confident that an early attack would probably succeed as other riders may have felt it would be too early to go.  As soon as the flag was dropped from the lead car he drifted over to the right side of the track and gently accelerated rather than mount a full attack.  He felt that a gentle roll away would be more successful.  This first roll away failed but a few seconds later he repeated the move and this time it stuck with A Somerset RC rider following his wheel.

 Photos Courtesy of Richard Owens

This move stayed away for about 30 mins with only a 15 second gap until James Williams ES Torigini and Greg Sandy SRC made a move from the bunch and bridged the gap.  This was then followed by John Wyn Achva Limoux.  

This then became the winning move of the race and this group managed to stay away from the ever chasing bunch right until the last lap.  It was at this time that Smith feeling extremely tired knew that if he left it to a bunch sprint he would lose against Williams and Sandy. 

These two were still taking turns in the move halfway round the last lap so were happy to wait for the bunch sprint.  Smith missed a turn and gathered himself.  This time he attacked with force and built a small gap.  He then waited to see if there was a chase but as he had thought Williams and Sandy looked at each other whilst Wynn was unable or unwilling to do anything.

As he approached the last corner he then saw that Sandy was now chasing on his own and quickly gaining on the RN rider.  It was however too little and too late and Smith was able to begin his celebration with room to spare.

JJ Was awarded a BCF medal and the jersey and title of South West District Champion for the following year.