Footscray Cycling Club was back on Altona’s Drake Boulevard for the first race in the four-race Form700 Super Series.
While the previous week’s start to race one was washed out, it was a relief for riders to race in perfect conditions – the overcast, cool conditions were reflected in a high race-pace in all grades.
The A-grade race had the added incentive of racing for the honour of winning the club’s legends race, and club champion Dom Dudkiewicz took the coveted sash and 10 series points.
Dudkiewicz formed a six-man breakaway with Matty Heath, Alister Tubb, veteran racer Geordie Probert, Andrew Bonello and Miles DaCosta, who absolutely blew the bunch apart.
They built an unassailable 80-second lead that left the rest of A-grade licking their wounds and sitting back for the rest of the race.
The B-grade battle was a pacy affair but lacked the usual attacking moves.
Johann Birk used his power to take a strong win from the unlucky Antonio Marino and guest rider Scott Brown.
Like the feature race, C-grade was dominated by an early break when Mark Micallef set off up the road with Josh Toohey, eventual winner Vlad Djuric and two other riders. But, after a long stint out in front, the bunch reeled the boys back in.
The final bunch sprint was taken by Djuric after an early jump gave him a small gap from the fast-finishing Toohey and Andrew Leighton.
First-time racer Luca Tarticchio beat fellow newcomer Andrew Spilsbury and Jason Hobbs in D-grade, while new member Aprille McMahon won the women’s race over Jenny Miller and Tamara Riddell.
