Published: 5 September 2006
From John Dennis
The final League points scoring racing of Reading Velodrome Racings season at Palmer Park Stadium on Monday produced a true clash of Champions. It was a worthy forerunner to next week's end of season cash prize fixture which includes the John Ralph Memorial 20 kms event, now included in British Cycling's new National Endurance title series.
Monday's clashes started with a specially arranged Sprint Challenge match which brought Lee Povey the Sussex League champion into contention with Sam Serruya, still a junior but Reading's sprint champion and also the Region's champion of 2006. Sam, who has a great future in front of him, clearly showed an unbeatable burst of speed to settle that score.
Then, because his home track at Herne Hill has already closed its 2006 evening programmes, Bryan Taylor, VC Londres, Reading's 2005 League Champion clashed with Reading's undisputed 2006 League Champion Joe Bayfield, AW Cycles Team in the 15 laps Derny motor paced final and the Endurance 20 kilometre event. But they were both shocked when two juniors Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers and Sam Serruya took the first two places in the Endurance race from Bayfield, with Taylor trailing behind.
Earlier Taylor had won the 10 lap Scratch and the Unknown Distance, but, even so the evidence of his recent broken collar-bone crash showed through and he could not hold on to Bayfield in the Derny motor paced event who went on to win from that ever present junior Michael Wilmot.
Nevertheless as points scoring for the season closed, Joe Bayfield emerged as the overwhelming winner of the Evening Post sponsored Track League Championship 2006. His superiority in this, his comeback year, has been most impressive for, on the way to the Championship win he also took the Endurance, Derny paced and Keirin titles.
However, 2006 League racing has been another year full of promise from an array of juniors. Pride of place for the ladies must go to Lara Wann. Although she finished runner up to Carrie Bedingfield in the overall Championship, Lara spent much of the season road racing which brought selection for the Junior World Championships in Belgium. There will be no denying the ability of youthful sprinter Sam Serruya, League and Regional title winner and runner up to his team mate Bayfield in the overall League Championships.
However the young man who has shown tremendous promise throughout the season must be Michael Wilmot, Hillingdon Slipstreamers. Starting the season in the B riders category he has emerged a clear winner of the overall and the Endurance tables, and medallist in the Sprint, Keirin and Derny motor paced sections. His performance won him an upgrade to the A riders category in mid-season and crowning glory of this year's racing must be his victory in last Monday's Endurance event.