COVENTRY-based M.I.Racing proved why they are now a force to be reckoned with outside the UK after tandem stars Chris Morris and cousin Phil Hunt put in an impressive performance at the Duo Normand time-trial race in France.
Both Morris and Hunt beat international opposition to win the 33-mile race on September 25 in Normandy although their success was overshadowed by the death of fellow British rider Ian Bashford.
Bashford collided with an official support vehicle as he approached the finish and despite the best efforts of medical staff, the 60-year-old died at the scene.
On a brighter note, two of the team’s time trial riders ended their race season on the open roads with personal best times.
Mark Wise recorded his fastest time of 21 minutes and 37 seconds at the Don Byham Memorial ten-mile race and at the same event Russell Green finished in a personal best time of 22 minutes and 17 seconds.
Cyclo cross and maintain rider Carl Sturgeon finished third in the Coedy Brenin Mountain Bike endurance race while at the Jenny Noad ten-mile memorial event, tricycle rider Gary Guntrip finished a brilliant fourth in a time of 28.33.
Guntrip followed that up with a fifth-place finish in the 25-mile Stan Spelling race where the strong winds limited him to a finishing time of 1:17.08.
There were high hopes for the M.I.Racing team heading to Round One of the National Cyclo Cross Trophy series in Derby but there were no such positive results for the team.
The best performance of the day came from British champion Kirby Bennett who despite a first lap crash finished seventh in the race for people over the age of 50.
Phil Roach was way off his game and finished 17th in the 55+ category and he was followed home by Peter Busby (20th) and Geoff Giddings (38th).
In the veterans 40+ race, Neil Mansfield finished 42nd while in the ladies 40+ category, Lindsey Nell finished 14th and Caroline Mansfield was two places behind.
