Workingman’s Stage Race and a Crash Course

by Thomas Scotto

Big congrats to the Cat 4 team of Josh Preneta, Eric Silva and Michael McKittrick!  They worked well together at this week’s Workingman’s Stage Race (which is rare for a cat 4 field) and kept Josh in the top ten.  Josh ended the last stage with 7th on GC.  I got to watch them work together during the points race last night on the Star Speedway in Epping, NH.  I saw the Quad 3-man train formed a few times at the front during the 80-laps.  NICE!!!
 
I personally didn’t have the juice for the last 3 days for whatever reason.  I have a bunch of excuses, but won’t bore you with excessive details.  Blah. Blah. Blah.  I will however make a comment about last nights points race (not about me): it was one of the worst races I have been in a long while with an abundance of BAD bike handling skills.  It was to the point where Dick Ring appeared visibly upset.  His comment was…“these guys are Cat 2’s and 3’s…who’s teaching they guys bike handling skills”.  Within 15 minutes of racing there were 2 bad crashes during which the race had to be neutralized.  I had one particular rider snub my front wheel 3 different times while changing his line seemingly without cause (see Side Note).  Then a rider decided that he didn’t want to race anymore (or whatever) and went from the pole (inside of the track) straight up the track to the entrance gate.  WHAT DA....  Out of my mouth came “hey buddy, I’m on your right”, but in my head, much stronger language was erupting.  I came almost to a complete stop and then had to chase the field which was just given a bell lap.  The writing was on the wall and the blood on the track.
 
SIDE NOTE:  I spoke to 3 of the guys who were involved in both crashes and pretty banged up (not the guy taken away in an ambulance).  They said both their crashes were caused by very poor riding from “one particular team”.  It so happened that “this” team was the same as that of the ride who kept changing his line in front of me.  There was a small group of about 4 to 5 of us talking and then more people joined in complaining about “this” team (I know…come on Tom tell us who it is).  This was disappointing, because I don’t like to hear good teams talked about in that fashion.  Well for matter of decency and because I truly like “this” team, I will only post the team name on the team site in the secured area where members can access (and search engines can not).  You’ll just have to wait.
 
CLARIFICATION: A number of people thought I witnessed the cause of the 2 crashes which I did not.  I did hear all sorts of banter, but would not be able to distinguish what was real and what was emotional.
 
Well, I’m done.  Hope to see a few of you on the road soon.  I’ll be recovering.