Supernova Cycles rider James Wilson sprinted to victory at the end of the E12 race at the third round of the Ludgershall Winter Series in Wiltshire on Saturday.
Wilson, 29 and from Newbury where Supernova Cycles are based, pipped breakaway rival David Creeggan (VC Meudon) by a couple of bike lengths in the sprint for the line, while the bunch came home 24 seconds later after failing to reel in the escapees.
Wilson had tried to escape with team-mate Matt Connor earlier in the race but was pulled back. However, on the fifth lap he successfully managed to break free with Creeggan, 39 and from Ash in Hampshire.
The pair worked well together and held their lead at 20-30 seconds for the remainder of the race, which was run off in cold but calm conditions but on a track which was slightly damp and slippery in places.
“I’m not bad at sprinting and I was reasonably confident going into the finish,” said 1st cat rider Wilson afterwards. “David started the sprint before me, but I was on him quickly and I came round him with about 50 metres to go.
“I’m really pleased to get the win for my sponsor, Cristian Tomlinson of Supernova Cycles, and hopefully we can build on this throughout the season. We’re a new team with four riders at the moment – me and Matt Connor, David Billings and James Wilding.
“I’m mainly going to be targeting National B races, so I’ll be doing the Perfs and the Severn Bridge Road Race next month and take it from there.”
Fourth in round one, Wilson missed the break in round two of the Ludgershall Series but managed to take second in the bunch sprint and was seventh overall.

3/4 Category Race

The supporting race for 3/4 category riders was won by Chippenham and District Wheelers’ Simon Barnes, who won a tight sprint finish after an eventful final circuit.
A crash just outside the top ten on the last lap saw eight riders hit the deck, and held up most of the bunch with only 15 managing to avoid the melee and go on to contest the finish.
Poole Wheelers’ 17-year-old Jordan Wade led out the sprint and looked to have victory in the bag, but 41-year-old Corsham-based rider Barnes just thrust his wheel ahead on the line to win by just a couple of inches.
Truro’s Chris Mattocks (Army Cycling Union) took third spot, the 20-year-old just holding off Craig Wallduck (Univ of Bristol CC) for the final podium place.
Apart from a few cuts and bruises, there were no serious injuries in the crash.
Results:
E/1/2/3:
1 James Wilson (Supernova Cycles) 54:21
2 David Creeggan (VC Meudon) @ same time
3 Patrick Martin (Wyndy Milla-UK Youth) @ 24sec
4 Brian McPherson (unattached)
5 Simon Snowdon (Cadence Cannondale)
6 John Russell (Strada Cycles)
7 Paul Derrick (Strada Cycles)
8 Mark Ottoway (WyndyMilla-UK Youth)
9 Jamie Streather (VC St Raphael)
10 Jason Streather (VC St Raphael) all @ same time