DHL Meadowbank National Track League 26/04/11

After the balmy conditions of the first week, Meadowbank returned to it's traditional temperatures, although this time we had an unusual easterly wind, straight from Siberia and giving us a nice chilly headwind on the home straight. Blankets were the most prized items in the D, riders huddling together under them between races (the D's the area the riders all sit in, coz it's shaped like a D).
Representing Vortex RT were Jeremy Greengrass, Mark Colquhoun & Colin Bark. Mark took this opportunity to brighten up the dull skies with a new pair of canary coloured Mavic shoes and received his team issue skinsuit.

 Onto the racing, more riders this week, so some events were a bit 'chaotic', but things are learnt quickly in track racing, there's always somebody to offer some advice, good to see riders get the hang of it in a short space of time.

Brucy Bonus
We were all wondering where Bruce Croall (British kilo champ) was last week, this time he showed us he was going well, taking wins in the 15 lap scratch & the 8km, beating our own Jez in the finale of the latter one, must have been a close finish as Jez wasn't sure if he'd won it or just been pipped until the result was announced. Bodes well for the future.

Sprint Ladder
We had Colin & Jez in this, Colin was feeling a little under the weather (& he needs another 10kg of muscle to squeeze out a sprint), but Jez won his heat. Would be good to see our comeback man Mark Colquhoun in that next time, but not entirely sure how it works.

Rest of the racing
As expected Martin Lonie was picking up points right through the night in various events, putting him to the top of the league table & also good to see Greg Brown, also from Dooleys dishing out some pain.
Looks like the track league is quite healthy this year, loads of new riders plus all the established ones and a few of us from the west getting ourselves through.
From our point of view, Mark's starting to look very strong and Jez is getting right up into the action, hopefully Colin can breathe next week, the Vortex will be gathering in numbers and the weeks progress.
 
Results from this week
Overall standings
League Info
Our info blog from a while ago