This week sees the racing heading up to Blackpool on Tuesday 9 June and Southport on Thursday 11 June.
Unlike the racing in Woking and Peterborough both circuits offer only subtle differences, with the Southport circuit being 1.3km compared to the 1km on offer at Blackpool. Long, straight boulevards with a haripin and return to a circling of the pit area await the teams on both nights, meaning that the crowds will be guranteed high speeds on these power-circuits.
Team winners last week, Rapha-Condor and Team Halfords, will once again be out this week to score. However, with the Rapha-Condor team committing some key players to a stage race in Canada Dean Downing will need all of his foot soldiers to dig deep to place the vital three as high up the rankings as possible.
Team Halfords will once again be very strong. Winner in Peterborough Ian Wilkinson will be joined by Ed Clancy, Rob Hayles, Rob Partridge and Ian Bibby in Blackpool, with Rob Partridge due to come in for his home-round in Southport.
Woking and Peterborough also witnessed significant improvements for the Eudura Racing squad. Evan Oliphant boosted their numbers, and some aggressive racing from James McCullum and Gary Hand ensured that the team enjoyed its first mid-field results after a slightly disapointing start to the Series.
With Russ Downing and his team taking two wins (Smithfield and Rydale) since last Thursday, the circuit strong men will be once again hard to beat this week. Downing will be joined by the super-consistent Malcolm Elliot, Graham Briggs, Peter Williams and Simon Holt (TBC) as they look to further-extend their slender lead of one point over the Madsion.co.uk and Rapha-Condor squads.
Team Standings after Round 4
- 1. Candi TV – Marshalls Pasta
- 2. Madison.co.uk
- 3. Rapha – Condor
- 4. Team Halfords Bikehut
- 5. Sigma Sport Cycling Team
- 6. Sports Beans – Wilier
- 7. Team Corley Cycles
- 8. BMC UK Racing Team
- 9. www.cyclingbargains.com
- 10. Endura Racing
