The Joker ruled the track on Thursday night, June 26th. The program featured a new race, the Joker's Gamble Points Race. Pat Lemieux used the luck of the draw and strong sprints to capture the new event. His victory in the 40 lap Scratch Race and strong finish in the 8-lap scratch race combined with his "winning hand" to give him the Cat 4/5 Omnium victory. Speedfix Racing enjoyed a strong evening, with three riders in the top five of the Cat 1/2 Omnium standings and a 3rd Omnium place in the Women's field.

 

What a show!!!
On the line as the gun goes down: the four riders of the powerful Speedfix Racing Team:

• Michael Sobol
• Brian Crosby
• Andy Kruse
• Ben Dubay

Across the track, playing the challengers' role, Team LGR-Wood:

• Joe Johnson
• Tim Mulrooney
• James Tainter
• Derrick Lewis

The Speedfix Team took advantage of a slow start by LGR-Wood, establishing a lead of several meters in the first shift. The LGR-Wood team re-grouped in the next shift and both teams found their stride. Each team rode fast, technically flawless laps through the first 2 KM. But Team LGR-Wood built speed as the race progressed, taking the lead at mid-race. They expanded their lead through the back half of the race, finishing the race just short of lapping Speedfix at the line. LGR-Wood's winning time of 4:43:663 set a high bar for next week's second semi-final. 

Andy started biking 11 years ago as mountain biker and came to the track five years ago with the profile of an endurance rider. He settled at the velodrome as he quickly reached the Cat 1 level and joined the Speedfix Racing Team.
 
Kruse loves the competitive aspects of track racing: his best velodrome memories came from last year's competition at Seattle when he realized he could not only ride in the pack with national champions but could also attack that group and be considered a real competitor at the national level.
 
Andy is striving for strong results this year, but most of all wants to relish the fun he has when he is riding.