Back on track

Well after a period of things seeming to go stale and, i suppose plateau, thaings seem to be back on track. My last to races have been with teh crew over at HPRW. The first race was on the classic Nundah rit circuit, a 1.2km flat circuit with a serious of S bends on the back straight and a long drag style finish straight. Anyway, with no team mates to help keep things in check, I had to go back to school and remember individual race tactics again.
After starting the race with a plan to just finish and use it as a tool for training to get things straight again, it didn't work out that way. A break went away and stayed away until the prime. Not sure if we dragged them back in or if they sat up (maybe a combination of both) but they came back to the peloton.
Anyway a series of break attempt went away again including one from me. Every one was attentive and all got pulled in. I even worked my ass off to bring some back. Then the second main break got away and was assisted by the blocking from 2 teams Merida and Mainline. Anyway the bunch tried to chase and it was broken up by these 2 teams each time. We then cuaght the B grade bunch, and just as we were almost passed tehm the commisairres gave them 2 laps to go and they picked up their pace. Words were exchanged by the 2 bunches but he end result was B grade break followed by A grade break followed by B grade followed by A grade. Not good for us.
A grade sat behind the B grade while they did their last 2 laps, rolling around at 40km/h. THe B grade riders not in the sprint sat up rolling down the finish straight sitting up all over the track. So once again in the race I let loose with a mouthful of abuse. Offended a few but dont care really as tehy shouldn't of been riding like that. Plus those that know me half expected it, anyway nothing happened from the officials so over it.
Once that was over we were back to full pace in a vain attempt to catch the A grade break. The end result for the day I crossed the line in 6th place (2nd from the bunch sprint).
So what started as a day to just stay in the race and get some legs going but not do too much turned out to be a hard day and a satisfying result.
Move forward one week. Racing with HPRW again but this time at the Lakeside motor raceway. I really hate this track, this is the one I crashed on in January 2007. I shattered my elbow tore a whole in my knee, 2 operations 5 days in hospital and 7 weeks off work.
Anyway back to yesterday, this track has 2 hills(for a crit they are hills) which are leg sapping. It was very hot 30 degrees C at 7am. The A grdae bunch raing for 60min so a long day. Once again the plan was to survive stay upright and get to the finish with the main bunch, minimum.
After an attacking race including me taking off in a couple of attempts, I was feeling really good. But the last time up the last hill I got stuck a little too far back and by the time I got over the top the spinters were already on the way down and I had to work very hard to make up some ground. So in the 53/12 I smashed it down the hill and took a run up at 65km/h and closed up a few spots but could only manage a 7th on the line. However i did manage to beat most of the ones I had marked through out the race as my main opposition.
SO since I last posted I have had a relatively good period of training and racing. Next weekend is a 2 race weekend. I am entered intot he Sizzling Summer Series(SSS) for the first time. I know I am a bit late as I am entering into race 3 of 4 but I dont care as they are not my goals for the year.
I will keep you posted on how things pane out over this week and how I feel leading into the SSS.
Ciao