Welcome to Imperial Racing Team.
A cycle racing club: to race, to promote racing across the sport and promote races for others.
Imperial / im’pIerIal / a. majestic : derived from imperiale (Fr.), a great cyclist: for example Laurent Jalabert ; not to be confused with imperial rule.
Imperial Winter Series 2009/2010
Last race of the series this Saturday 13th February.
Imperial Winter Series 2009/2010 starts
5th December be ready!
It’s getting colder, wetter by the day. The long dark days of winter are upon us. Time to buy in the comfort food, put another log on the fire and cosy up for a long afternoon of racing DVDs on the flat screen.
Is it heck!? No, it’s time to get cracking, get some last minute training in for the fourth Imperial Winter Series which starts in just a matter of days. Closed circuit racing is where it’s at come winter and judging by the record 300+ riders making up over 1000 individual race entries for last year’s series there’s really no better way to beat those winter blues than by getting back on the bike and turning in some handlebar to handlebar action. And this year’s series promises more of everything that the regular entrants have come to enjoy. So let’s tell you what’s new...
4th Cats now race for longer
Yep, it seemed that 30 minutes (Plus five laps) wasn’t enough, so based on rider feedback we’ve extended the 4th Cat races to 40 minutes. That should allow for more developments in race strategy and of course means more racing for your money.
All-new 3rd Cat races
Now we’re aware it’s a tough job making the leap from the 4th Cat race to the E123 main event. In the past that’s meant a step up from a half hour to a full 60 minute (plus five laps) race, plus the full gamut of Elite and 1 and 2 Cat – not to mention established 3rd Cat racers – to contend with. Chances are, unless he or she is really strong, the new 3rd Cat will get murdered in such company.
So this year we’ve created a new separate championship for the 3rd Cats. Sometimes run in conjunction with the 4 Cat race, sometimes a standalone race, the 3rd Cat championship is based on a 50 minute (plus five laps) race format. So regardless, the 3rd Cats will always be chasing their own line honours. We think its going to be a very exciting series.
E123 Cats
Business as usual here. Each week a 60 minute (plus five laps) race . Each week an ultra-competitive super-tough battle of strength and wits in fact. Last year – how do we put this? – age won over youth, as 36-year-old Jerone Walters took the title ahead of 26-year-old Chris Moores, while 40-year-old Paul Anderson made sure young Chris felt crowded on the podium. For Chris, it was his second successive runner-up in the series. This year we dare say he’ll be back to make good on the job – unless...
We should add that the Imperial Winter Series is recognised as a National B grade event, so for those chasing British Cycling points it’s a good call to boost your tally next season.
Online entries
This year we've introduced online entry with discounted race entry, through RiderHQ, to promote easier race morning sign-on for all. We should add that, whilst we've had the same fees for three years, this year the entry fee has had to go up a few bob due to increased track fees and BC race levies. As it is, we've tried to keep the increase to the absolute minimum.
See you there?
So to recap. The series starts December 5. It’s a 12 round series. The track is the Hillingdon Cycle Circuit. The racing caters to Elite and 1234 Cats plus Youth. There is series prizemoney (which varies a little depending on entries) plus spot prizes. There’s even a wee tea and cakes stand. Oh, and Doug Collins officiates. It’s a cracking series and if you’ve never tried it before, it really is time you did.
Coaching
Now for this year there’s the opportunity to get in some coaching on circuit racing before the racing gets underway. Mark November 21 (it’s a Saturday) in your diary, as Prime Coaching will come to the Hillingdon Circuit for a four-hour (1-5pm) training session on the do’s and don’ts and probably a few ‘cunning tricks to have up your sleeve’ that’ll be sure to have you ready in every way for when the action kicks off. No question, circuit racing can be intense and riding in a fast moving peloton around a technical undulating circuit calls for an understanding of racing etiquette. If circuit racing is new to you, this is a must-attend.
Youth
Youth racing will begin on 9th January 2010Race fee of £3.50 is paid cash on the day in the Youth HQ (see map) at the signon desk. Please register for a place in the Youth series by clicking on the blue button below, you will also find information on age categories and bike requirements.
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Imperial Winter Series 2008/2009
Walk-on Walters Wow, that was 13 races done and dusted before we even knew it. And when the dust, or rather snow, ice and rain, had settled it was Sigma Sport teamster Jerone Walters sporting the biggest smile, a worthy victor of the E123 series. And shockingly there was home team win in the Category 4s, with Imperial Racing Team’s own Dave Ryan tying up what was this year a very competitive field. We’re very pleased to say we saw just over 300 riders sign on this year, making up over 1000 individual race entries for the series. And it was a series that again managed to avoid any race cancellations, despite even the snow. We were delighted too when mid-series we upgraded the event from C+ to National B, meaning more points for those hungrily chasing them down, ready for the summer season. What with the introduction of specialist video equipment for the finish we hope you’ll agree the event did get measurably more professional again this season. It has to be said the 4th cats were a revelation. You guys had certainly done your homework, for the standard of riding (and tactics) was very high. And our apologies here must go to any of the huge entry that made week one and who must have been put off by the seriously big field and high standards they met. Do come back again and let it be said if you do keep coming then you do settle in, it does get easier. But it’s never actually easy, of course. |
 We were pleased too to see such diversity in the entries. Sixty year olds rode side by side with teenagers, and of course quite a few of those older guys taught the whippersnappers a trick or two. And again the racers were truly international – you only have to read the results – and we were delighted to receive raiding parties from the North too. A special word here for Rudie Marais, winner of Doug Collins’s Most Combative Rider award. Rudie really took on so many of the E123 races, forming breakaways, or pulling them back, and always-always attacking. Rudie made 10th in the series and maybe if he chose alternative tactics he might have scored higher – but would we have been so entertained? Probably not – a crowd pleaser is Rudie.  And finally, again well done to the winners. Jerone Walters (36) came new into the series and made it his own. While Paul Alderson (40), another newcomer and Cat 2, by stealing the final podium position showed that even in the cut and thrust of circuit racing age (and experience, clearly) can count for a lot. To Chris Moores (a mere youth at 26) it was 2nd again for the second year running. But Chris is a stylish and capable rider, maybe next year will be his. To all of you who came along, again a very big thank you, we enjoyed your company, your spirit and your efforts. We hope you enjoyed yourselves too and go on to have a great summer of racing. And when it gets cold and dark at the end of the year, you’ll know where to come. |
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 Class of 2008/2009 |
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