Fortunately he returned to his winning ways when he successfully defended his Big Bug 500 title with an emphatic sprint finish at Sydney's popular Heffron Park circuit but not before a thrilling challenge from local rider Tim Willing (Easts/Multiplex Living).

 

"Coming from a track background I don't mind cutting the grass sometimes" Willing gasped after the race. "Having riders of this quality, it was great to have a go with them."

In a way the result reflected the knockabout manner in which the Aussie pro's enjoy their Xmas at home. They still want to show who is boss (out training or racing), but just love hanging out with their mates and they never really forget that venues like Heffron Park on a Saturday is where it all began. Lining up with Brownie were two other Sydney pro's Chris 'CJ' Sutton (Garmin - Slipstream) and Trent Wilson (Jittery Joes) who are also in the middle of their preparation for the Australian Road Nationals in January and of course, The Tour Down Under.

 

The Bike Bug 500 is in it's third year and is promoted by Randwick Botany Cycling Club and The Bike Bug North Sydney and also features Randwick Botany's generous and much sort after Xmas pudding prizes. Anthony Spurgeon (Caravello) won the first one in 2006 and was back with a strong contingent of A grade riders for this years race. With most of the locals waiting for the first move to come from pro riders the opening laps were pretty steady - 150km in the morning will do that.

 

Blair Martin (North Sydney/KOM Cyclery) was the first to liven up the race with Reuben Donati (Byron Bay) in tow. A lap later at the half way mark it was altogether again before Dave Evans (North Sydney/KOM Cyclery), Robbie Cater (Panasonic/NSWIS) and Scott Kilmartin (Qld) opened up an impressive 25sec gap on the bunch. It stayed that way for another 4 laps but then it was down to business. A few half lap turns from the pros, the bunch disintegrated and a chasing group of nine riders Graeme Brown, Chris Sutton, Trent Wilson, Tim Willing, Anthony Bennett and Ben Isaksen (Lidcombe Auburn), Luke Cridland (Panasonic/NSWIS), Blair Martin and James Ibrahim (Decked Out Coaching) joined the front three riders to race it out to the finish.

 

A bold solo move by Luke Cridland looked impressive but it was going to a be long shot for one of the locals to ride away from Brownie and co. It was still another local, a very surprised Ben Isaksen who bolted home for third. Benny claimed after "I surprised myself - I just came straight from work where I've been on my feet all day selling bikes"

 

But then again, that's racing the Aussie way - mixing it with the pro's, having some fun and still fitting in a race after a day's work at the local bike shop. The day wasn't over for Brownie and CJ though - they still had another 30km to ride home. That was on top of the 210km they had already clocked up since they first hit the road at 5.30am.

 

Aussie roadies for you, always working, always having fun.

 

Handicap Event - Topfer too fast Heffron Park's favourite event, a 15 lap group handicap got the afternoon underway at 4pm. There was a solid turnout of 45 riders in two grades with the C grade riders getting a good 2min start on a chasing bunch of 25 B grade riders. The race came together with 5 laps to go which gave both grades to settle in and prepare for the finale.
Barry Mourad had the crowd off their feet when he attacked the bunch down the home straight not once, but on three successive laps. Putting Xmas puddings up as part of the race prizemoney was all the incentive Bazza needed and he was going for it, but it was the sprinters who were going enjoy the spoils. Hitting the last corner into the straight and a reasonably stiff headwind an early move went up he right hand side before running out of puff.

That was the only sniff Charlie 'Big Guns' Topfer needed and he jumped clear down the left side of the track. Charlie's always had a good finish, as his second place in last Sunday's Cronulla support race showed and he easily managed to hold it all the way to the line resplendent in his new sharp looking Australian Fastsigns team kit. Charlie had a big grin on his face when he got a kiss from wife Liz who also raced and commented that the win "was a very nice Xmas present."

 

Second place when to a very new kid on the block and one we'll hear a lot more of in the future. Five months ago 22yo Liam Sweeten hadn't ridden a road bike, let alone raced one. Under the guidance of his Uncle George Helou he's had four C grade races at Sutherland's Friday night Waratah Park circuit, placed third in first B grade race last night and backed up to hold off 30 more experienced riders in a full on Heffron Park bunch gallop. Watch out Brownie.

 

Scott Mitchell was third in the sprint ahead of two Heffron Park regulars, Mr EveryReady Sean O'Neill and spinmeister Alan Hainsworth. Completing the podium was Roger Shackleton who is really enjoying his summer racing this year.