Charlie Fisher weighs in to take third place
Teenager Charlie Fisher has wasted little time making an impact in his first season in adult racing.
The 16-year-old Newport rider claimed a podium finish in the second round of the Shropshire and South Staffs Road Race League, writes Ben Goddard.
Fisher battled superbly in a sprint finish to clinch an impressive third place.
Jonathan Perry upset the odds by sprinting clear to his first ever victory in the league.
The 42-year-old from Wombourne was part of the first group to start and used the handicap system to their full advantage to hold off their faster rivals.
The first group, consisting of 28 riders, had a total of nine minutes head start of the last of five groups based on ability.
After 32 miles of fast racing the first group saw their winning margin cut to 40 seconds over the rest of the riders who came together as one big bunch.
Perry was the fastest of the front group, clinching victory in his second ever road race after suffering a puncture in his first.
“I’m over the moon and the race it couldn’t have gone any better,” said Perry.
“The group worked well together and just kept going to the finish. We kept the speed high and just managed to keep the rest of the bunch at bay.
“I just went for the sprint at the end and managed to hold the rest off. We were expecting to be caught by the faster groups but it was all down to timing.
“After not finishing last week I just wanted to get round, so I couldn’t have asked for any better.”
Riders completed five laps of the flat ‘Charlton triangle’ circuit on the outskirts of Shrewsbury, including a fast drag up the old A5 during the race hosted by local team Revolution Racing along with Mammoth Lifestyle RT.
The last group to start contained 20 riders, including many of the best riders in the region and the opening race winner Matthew Morris.
They clocked an average speed of 29 miles per hour and caught all but the first of the remaining groups well before the finish.
However, it was to be the night of the first group and Perry was a clear winner ahead of Stourbridge CC team-mate Simon Haycock.
Matthew Gathwaite (Rhino Velo) led the chasing bunch home for 25th on the night with overall series leader Morris finishing two places behind him.
