James Jackson took another step in his development, at Team Economic Energy's penultimate circuit race at Dunton on Thursday 9th August, as he held his own with established New Zealand professional, Gordon MacCauley (PCA/Evans Cycles RT).
Gordon and team mate James Millard were using the race at Ford's test track as part of their training for their upcoming races in the Tour of Britain and the Tour of Ireland, but this didn't mean that they were there to make up the numbers. Keen to prove himself against this tough opposition, James marked Gordon's every move and the pair even managed to escape the clutches of a very hard chasing peloton to work together for a lap or so, before being reeled in.
The whole field seemed to have something to prove tonight and the pace was unrelenting, with the bunch often strung out along the whole length of the straights. Despite a lot of hard work in attempting to escape, by the likes of Dean Shannon and Andy Lyons (Heron Cyclesport), Ben Price (Rapha Condor) and the two man tag team that was the PCA Evans Cycles RT, nothing semmed like it would get away until, with a lap and half to go, MacCauley put in a final big attempt to rid himself of the clutches of the bunch....not to mention young Jackson!
He soloed off and managed to hold everyone off until the last kilometre when the capture was made. Somehow James Jackson found himself where he didn't want to be, in front with about 600 metres to go, and although not an ideal situation, he jumped as hard as he could and held off everyone except Ben Price (Rapha Condor) and Steven Griffiths (Glendene CC/Bike Trax) who got around him for the win and second place respectively.
Results:
1.) Ben Price: Rapha Condor
2.) Steven Griffiths: Glendene CC/Bike Trax
3.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
Thursday, August 9, 2007
The James' go time trialling.
James Whatling and James Jackson competed in the Herts Wheelers evening 10mile time trial on Tuesday 7th August and, despite their relative inexperience at the discipline, acquitted themselves well, coming first and second respectively.
The evening was made more eventful by James Whatling's ability to be clumsy at any given time, and tonight he somehow managed to get a stick in his eye as he went to go to the loo in a nearby hedge. It was very painful and left him with a very red eye, perhaps was not the best result when getting married in a few days! The second eventful moment came when our esteemed sponsor, Mr Trevor Maddern, decided to put in an appearance on his scooter to cheer us on along the way. He might, however, have regretted this move as, at about a third distance, the heavens opened, leaving him very wet and the James' struggling to see in the rain and the gloom.
Despite the downpour, and the subsequent need to take it rather steadily at the turn, both the Ciclos Uno riders charged for home and James Whatling won in a time of 21.35, with James Jackson in second place with 22.07.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Jackson works hard for 2nd at Dunton.
James Jackson continued his fantastic run of results with a well earned 2nd place in the latest of Team Economic Energy's circuit races at Ford's Dunton test track.
The latest of the Thursday night series, held on the 2nd August, had it's largest field yet, as word spread about the quality of the racing to be had. James Jackson was quickly into the action, and went almost from the gun trying to tempt a few others to try and escape the bunch. The size of the field was playing a large part in the racing though, with there always being someone willing to pull the break back.
Not to be undeterred, both James' tried time and again to pull away but even when groups began to form, the peloton was quickly onto them, unwilling to let anything get away. James Whatling, perhaps thinking too much about his points needed for his 1st Cat licence, decided to hang back and wait for the finale but James Jackson continued in his quest to break free, working hard throughout the race.
With 3 laps to go, it was the winner of the previous week's race, Daniel Patten (Pacific/Flanders RT) who made the move and, for once, no one seemed too keen to chase. Ben Price (Rapha Condor) decided he wasn't going to let Daniel have another breakaway win and pulled hard on the front of the bunch, instigating the charge to pull the escapee back. The pace was unrelenting for the final two laps and, as the bunch opened up the sprint, Daniel was engulfed, his quest unfulfilled. The sprint was a hectic one, with plenty of pushing and shoving, but Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) found the gap and managed to make the jump on James Jackson to take the victory. James Whatling came in for 12th, still searching for those points!
Results:
1.) Adam Norris: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
2.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
3.) Ben Price: Rapha Condor
4.) Mark Beattie: Maldon & District CC
5.) Andy Waterman: Norwood Paragon
The latest of the Thursday night series, held on the 2nd August, had it's largest field yet, as word spread about the quality of the racing to be had. James Jackson was quickly into the action, and went almost from the gun trying to tempt a few others to try and escape the bunch. The size of the field was playing a large part in the racing though, with there always being someone willing to pull the break back.
Not to be undeterred, both James' tried time and again to pull away but even when groups began to form, the peloton was quickly onto them, unwilling to let anything get away. James Whatling, perhaps thinking too much about his points needed for his 1st Cat licence, decided to hang back and wait for the finale but James Jackson continued in his quest to break free, working hard throughout the race.
With 3 laps to go, it was the winner of the previous week's race, Daniel Patten (Pacific/Flanders RT) who made the move and, for once, no one seemed too keen to chase. Ben Price (Rapha Condor) decided he wasn't going to let Daniel have another breakaway win and pulled hard on the front of the bunch, instigating the charge to pull the escapee back. The pace was unrelenting for the final two laps and, as the bunch opened up the sprint, Daniel was engulfed, his quest unfulfilled. The sprint was a hectic one, with plenty of pushing and shoving, but Adam Norris (PCA/Evans Cycles RT) found the gap and managed to make the jump on James Jackson to take the victory. James Whatling came in for 12th, still searching for those points!
Results:
1.) Adam Norris: PCA/Evans Cycles RT
2.) James Jackson: PCA/Ciclos Uno
3.) Ben Price: Rapha Condor
4.) Mark Beattie: Maldon & District CC
5.) Andy Waterman: Norwood Paragon
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