Curran leads home a one-two for Optimum

WHILE the rest of the Optimum Performance RT squad was contesting the Premier Calendar event in South Wales, Paul Curran led a one-two for the team in Sunday's Joe Robinson Memorial road race, promoted on his home roads by Stockton Wheelers.

Curran, who won the event for the first time last year, came in ahead of team-mate Mark Lovatt as they stretched out a lead of virtually two minutes over the erstwhile breakaway rival, Pete Coggins (Brough Wheelers).

David Cook (Middridge CRT), the former national amateur road champion, took the bunch sprint for fourth place from Russell Thompson (GS Metro), Richard Moore (Cottingham Coureurs) and Martin Wallbank (North East RT).

Curran made his move on the first of six and three-quarter laps of the Bishopton circuit.

He escaped along with Moore, Cook and Coggins, and they opened up a 55-second lead on the bunch before first Moore and then Cook lost contact.

Lovatt, meanwhile, jumped across to Curran and Coggins on the fourth lap and the outcome was virtually settled as Curran and Lovatt worked the old one-two on Coggins on the main climb with nine miles remaining.

RESULTS

1. Paul Curran (Optimum Performance RT) 78.5m in 2-59-12
2. M. Lovatt (Optimum Performance RT) st
3. P. Coggins (Brough Wh) at 1-59
4. D. Cook (Middridge CRT) at 4-43
5. R. Thompson (GS Metro)
6. R. Moore (Cottingham Coureurs)
7. M. Wallbank (North East RT)
8. C. Ash (Middridge CRT)
9. M. Smith (Cleveland Wh)
10. M. Wright (Middridge CRT) all st.