Mallory Park

[German]

Why stop Elites racing Mallory from beginning of June onwards? There's no Elite Circuit Series until the end of July, only two of those are on a Thursday and not even a single one in the East Midlands anyway.

Considering there are only a little over 20 events for 1st cats or Elites in the region anyway maybe I should consider asking BC for a 2nd cat license. I always thought Mallory Park was for training and any lower category rider should welcome the chance to ride against higher category riders. I learned a lot when I went to the Thursday races as a 4th cat.

[Will Scarlet]

Won't you be riding the Tour series crits? Even Elites don't want to race 3 or 4 evenings a week.

Experience shows that most 3's & 4's don't want to race against E's & 1's.

There was a Tuesday night a couple of year's ago when E's & 1's were invited because there was no race on Thursday. They rode away from everyone else at the start and ended up lapping the whole field twice. Meanwhile the the 3/4's continued to have their own race.

[Andrew Jackson]

A number of reasons.

1. Most elites will be riding other events from June onwards
2. Thursday nights are poorly supported in the current format
3. Many good 3 cat riders become 2nd cat by the summer and need another challenge/race, without becoming fodder for elites
4. 3 and 4 cats will be more likely to race on Thursday against 2nd cats, gaining race experience without getting lapped twice.
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You can't polish a turd

[German]

I don't think I'll be doing many Tour Series races with the team we have, I'm more focused on the prems and a ride to mallory then race then ride back has always been a good session for me.

I remember the Tuesday a few years back and there were a few riders who managed to hold on and I'm sure it was a good experience for them. I don't expect a lot of 3/4s to turn up on a Thursday but those wanting a challenge or get better should give it a try.

Unless you are a crit *CENSORED* (which I'm not, and there are plenty of other Elites and first cats who aren't either) then there are no other events out there. I don't fancy driving 4-5hours to race for an hour (if that).

Tour Series is meant to start mid May till maybe mid/end of June then theres nothing until the end of July.

I know plenty of riders who stop racing when they are close to becoming a first cat because of the lack of races and the extra travelling involved. This just proves it again.

Why not make it into a handicap event? For all I care give the Elites 2 extra laps to do (as long as when going past them, the bunch doesn't sit on us). Or run two seperate races? but then I guess you don't get enough first cats or elites for them to race on their own.

[eastway82]

The 3/4s who can hold onto the back of the E/1s aren't going to stay 3/4s for long. For the rest of us there's no educational value in getting our heads kicked in from flag to flag.

Handicap idea is more like it - when I was a junior we used to do an evening series of handicaps out Cambridge way, everyone from novices through to part time pros. Worked very well. Can get a bit messy on a short circuit though.

[Pete Mooney]

[German]

I guess I'll ask BC for a 2nd cat license next year or stop racing until I'm back at a lower category. Its fair enough if its financially not do able but there are hardly any races in the East Mids for Elites/1st cat and its too much travelling involved (time consuming and costly) to race at that level for anyone living around here.

The reason that was originally given for the format of mallory changing from june onwards was that elites would be racing crits anyway - how many elites/1st cats are there and how many riders can do an elite circuit crit!?

I'm very glad there are people out there organising races for us but its a shame that there seems to be so much less once you move above 2nd cat

[Will Scarlet]

In the East Midlands, there are only 7 Elites who scored points last year, including yourself, Raph. In the West Mids, there are only 8.

1st cats - E Mids 13, W Mids 16.

At least half of the elites would be riding the Tour series.

This shows what the Mallory organisers and others who might want to put on races for E/1's, are up against.

[Tom Butcher]

I know it's been done to death but for me I can't understand why we need two categories to cover so few riders. At the very least they should combine elite and first cat - probably make it a bit easier to move up to first too though I know some people will complain this cheapens a first cat licence.

[German]

Why are there so few Elites or even 1st cats?

Its a shame but I do understand the decision. Just a shame to be missing out on the racing.