Matt Mason continues show good early season form over the weekend in the 45+ Greenville Series. Matt was able to put his previous knowledge and years of experience to good use as he was able to hold off Steve Sperry for 4th place in the up hill finish of the Fork Shoals Road Race. John Patterson took an early flyer and was able to solo to victory while another rider from Atlanta was able to come out of the field to secure second. With 1K to go on this up hill finish Matt put in a huge effort to seperate himself from the field only to be caught by a hard charging Hank McCullum, with 25meters to go. Matt was able to edge out Sperry and hold on to 4th.
Today back at Donaldson Center Matt was able to make the early break as the group was finishing the 1st lap of 6. With 1 lap to go Matt found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as he had just come off of a pull and came unlatched from the break now of 7. Matt would go onto contest the field and finished 3rd out of the field and 10th over all putting Matt well into the top 10 of the 45+ Masters group with 1 more weekend left. Lets go and give Matt the support he needs to be successful at River Falls and Donaldson Center and move him up in the overall.
MOB racing also had a strong contengent at the Orange Co. Speedway on Saturday as Rick Creed, Micheal Vandy, Rich Melencio and myself entered the combined 40+ , 30+ track event. This was first time to really stretch the legs in somewhat of a crit style race of the 2010 season. The 15-20mph head winds on the back stretch only added to the excitment as we rolled to the line of a small group of about 35 riders. The field was made up of a strong group from Parker McConville's Triangle Velo team that were ready to roll as they had 3 riders that attacked from the gun. My legs filled quickly as I put in an effort to try to draw this very early break close. Rick Creed was able to get across to the break in less than a lap. Which I'm so greatful to have that guy flying the MOB colors! Rich really was working hard to cover moves and fill in gaps that would help to keep pressure off Rick and Vandy. Vandy took a flyer to get to a second move by Parker and company but the season is still early and the windy was getting stronger. Rick let me know that there was 1 rider off the front of the group that I thought was off the back of the field. We asked the official as we went pasted the start finish and the offical said that this rider was a lap down to the group. With 13laps to go Vandy took another flyer to try and take second out of the field. Vandy was caught by the field being driven by Triangle Velo. With a lap to go and Rick a lap up on the field I picked up Vandy for a lead out for what we thought would be second and Rich Melencio in third. It was not until the scoring was complete that we found out the Rick was 1st, his first win of the season and for Mock Orange Bikes, the rider we thought was off the back was scored as second, while Vandy was 3rd, Rich was 4th and I finished 5th. Congrats the Rick for the win and for Matt with his result at Greenville. We are off to a great start. Only 6 days til River Falls. I can't hardly wait.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
MOB Kicks off the season in Fine Fashion
We could not have had any better weather, Sunny, light wind and 64 degrees on Saturday at the famed Donaldson Center as MOB got the 2010 season started with the Greenville Series.
In a stacked 35+ race we had birthday boy Rich Melencio and new to the MOB Michael Vandy flying the colors in a race that started fast and furious being driven by multi attacks from Ryan Jenkins and several counters from the local Global Bike Team, Great Escape and POA. After 2 hard laps the string snapped with Vandy making the break of 9 riders. Vandy would go on to finish 7th while the race was won in a solid sprint by Darren Marhinka.
In the 45+ plus race Matt Mason and myself rolled to the line with a group of about 60 other old men that included Hank McCluium, Tom Sunday and Steve Sperry. After 2 solid Todd began to slow and I let him know that I was on his right as he moved just left enough to let me through. I was standing on it for all I was worth with happened to be 3 out of the field. After cooling down and checking the results they had me posted as 14th, 9 man break, and some how 2 riders between the break and field, which I was unaware. Oh well, good result for Matt to start the season.
Rick Lee lined up in a large Cat. 3 field. A break went at the start of lap 2. Rick worked with Wyatt Briggs and 2 others to try and bring it back to no avail. With little support and inadvertently getting popped in the nose that lead to a serious nose bleed Rick pulled out with 2 to go. Saving it for another day.
Now for the main event, the Pro AM 1, 2 race. There was a huge field with Team Type I, POA, Subaru- Gray Fisher, and many other teams from all over the Southeast. MOB had Ben Faulk, Allen Trip and Mark Jellous on the line with a group of over 100 riders. Allen initiated the first move of the day just after the right to left chicane. He would be joined by 4 other riders and would stay away until the start of lap 3. The initial break was caught on the hill by the golf course and a counter soon followed. Mark was able to make the 9 man break that would set a blistering pace and covered the 3rd lap in under 16mins. While Ben was policing the front of the field he hit a pot hole while the group was slowing causing him to grip the breaks and sending him over the front of the bike. Ben had medical treat and would find out that he had fx. his R wrist. We want to wish Ben a speedy recovery as he is scheduled to be married on Saturday.
After 5 more exhausting laps Andy Baker had a small gap that incited the Team Type I riders to take up the chase and allowed Mark to follow wheels. Once Andy was caught then the multiple attacks started by Chris Johnson with the BMC development U-23 team, fresh from training camp. Mark held on to finish 7th on the day as the "Old Amature" of the group.
All in all a really great weekend for TEAM MOB.
In a stacked 35+ race we had birthday boy Rich Melencio and new to the MOB Michael Vandy flying the colors in a race that started fast and furious being driven by multi attacks from Ryan Jenkins and several counters from the local Global Bike Team, Great Escape and POA. After 2 hard laps the string snapped with Vandy making the break of 9 riders. Vandy would go on to finish 7th while the race was won in a solid sprint by Darren Marhinka.
In the 45+ plus race Matt Mason and myself rolled to the line with a group of about 60 other old men that included Hank McCluium, Tom Sunday and Steve Sperry. After 2 solid Todd began to slow and I let him know that I was on his right as he moved just left enough to let me through. I was standing on it for all I was worth with happened to be 3 out of the field. After cooling down and checking the results they had me posted as 14th, 9 man break, and some how 2 riders between the break and field, which I was unaware. Oh well, good result for Matt to start the season.
Rick Lee lined up in a large Cat. 3 field. A break went at the start of lap 2. Rick worked with Wyatt Briggs and 2 others to try and bring it back to no avail. With little support and inadvertently getting popped in the nose that lead to a serious nose bleed Rick pulled out with 2 to go. Saving it for another day.
Now for the main event, the Pro AM 1, 2 race. There was a huge field with Team Type I, POA, Subaru- Gray Fisher, and many other teams from all over the Southeast. MOB had Ben Faulk, Allen Trip and Mark Jellous on the line with a group of over 100 riders. Allen initiated the first move of the day just after the right to left chicane. He would be joined by 4 other riders and would stay away until the start of lap 3. The initial break was caught on the hill by the golf course and a counter soon followed. Mark was able to make the 9 man break that would set a blistering pace and covered the 3rd lap in under 16mins. While Ben was policing the front of the field he hit a pot hole while the group was slowing causing him to grip the breaks and sending him over the front of the bike. Ben had medical treat and would find out that he had fx. his R wrist. We want to wish Ben a speedy recovery as he is scheduled to be married on Saturday.
After 5 more exhausting laps Andy Baker had a small gap that incited the Team Type I riders to take up the chase and allowed Mark to follow wheels. Once Andy was caught then the multiple attacks started by Chris Johnson with the BMC development U-23 team, fresh from training camp. Mark held on to finish 7th on the day as the "Old Amature" of the group.
All in all a really great weekend for TEAM MOB.
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