Copyright Snowdon Sports Editorial & Cycling Weekly

MAINTAINING his winning start to the domestic season, Chris Newton (Corima RT) soloed his way to a 2-30 victory in Hartlepool CC's Neil White Memorial Pursuit over an 84-kilometre course at Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

Completing a weekend double after his win in the Eddie Soens Memorial, the world points race champion left his fellow scratch rider Stuart Wearmouth (Science in Sport.com) trailing on the fifth of six laps.

Wearmouth outsprinted Marcus Smith (Cleveland Wheelers) for third place as they came in 25 seconds clear of a chasing group of five riders.

Newton, Wearmouth and Julian Gromett (Cottingham Coureurs) were the elite scratch riders, who gave the first category group immediately in front of them four minutes and had to close a massive 17-minute deficit on the limit group made up of women and fourth categories.

Although they dropped Gromett on the opening lap, Newton and Wearmouth made only modest headway for the first two laps, after which they were still 2-25 behind the first-category riders.

However, they closed rapidly - to within 35 seconds - on the next circuit as the groups in front of them merged and lost some of their momentum, and they got to the front on the fourth lap.

Wearmouth was dropped as Newton started to get up through the race convoy, but the world champion waited for Wearmouth and Smith - the latter having started six minutes in front of the scratch men - to make contact. But Newton was on his own as he took the bell, and the final lap saw him power away.

Chris Newton (Corima RT) 84km in 2-05-30;
2, S. Wearmouth (Science in Sportcom) at 2-30,
3, M. Smith (Cleveland Wh) same time,
4, C Ash (Cestria CC) at 255,
5, S. Ward (VC Azzurri),
6, R. King (VS Briganti),
7, K. Brennan (Dinnington RC);
8, J. Anderson (Ferryhill Wh) all st;
9, S. Lawson (Cestria CC) at 3-20;
10, P. Musgrave (Clifton CC, York) st.

Points.- Chris Newton.