Bremen Six Day 2012 – Day Two

To misquote Shakespeare;

‘that which I greatly feared is upon us.’

Brad hasn’t been taking bottles in the chases thus far and we’d no reason to think he’d start tonight, but he did.

Right at the moment his mitted hand clutched that bottle, my heart sank – I’ve lived this nightmare before.

Back in the Hasselt Six Day, four or five years ago, we had big Kiwi team pursuiter Marc Ryan on the books.

He took two bottles in the first chase but we couldn’t find the damn things on the track – at this point you should be aware that Kris is obsessive, if not obsessive-compulsive about his baby feeding bottles.

‘Marc what did you with those bottles, pal?‘ I asked him. : ‘Ah, I lobbed ’em into the crowd mate, isn’t that what you do?‘

I was worried Kris would have some sort of seizure, when Marc hit us with that gem.

So when Brad disappeared up the back straight, I was willing him to drop the bottle. No danger; I saw his left arm stretch out – the bottle was lobbed into the crowd, or was it the bar?

I spoke to two barmen before the security guard moved me on – but I’ll be back there at two o’clock this morning, on all fours on that bar floor, I just know it.

The joys of the Six Days.

I shouldn’t have had that iced latte, late on Thursday evening – it took me ages to drop off to sleep, despite it being 03:00 am.

I was up at 09:30 to get the cabin sorted out, fold the clothes – all the boring stuff.

Brad decided to change his position a little, today.

He fitted a shorter stem, and lowered the saddle a little – he felt the Focus was a little twitchy up front when he was in the change.

Lampater and Keisse lead with 61 points, Franco and Kalz are on the same lap with 52 as are Schep & Bartko with 43 and Kankovsky & Bengsch also with 43.

Jesper is at one lap, Jackie at three and Brad at five.

The U23 race kicked off tonight – there were the usual hollers every lap and the inevitable clatter as five or six tasted timber.

No lasting damage, though.

US riders Barry Miller and Colin Berry who rode in Rotterdam are here, having the ‘full UiV experience’ with a nine in a room hostel, no food or transport provided and warm up and change in the tunnel.

As I said to Barry; ‘Character building!‘

The opening Devil was rapid, again, really fast ’til the field thinned a little.

I held up Andreas Muller at the start of the first Madison, he looks sharp, cheek bones well to the fore.

He spent December in Mallorca getting in some good training, but missed the Rotterdam Six Day to ride the ‘Revolution’ at Manchester.

He rates the young British riders very highly; ‘not tactically good, but very strong!’

He was showing me the tread band of his Continental tyres – they were coated with a white grit, it must be coming off the white-painted advertising boards.

Jesper punctured yesterday, but that’s only one I’ve heard of, so far.

They’re big on Dernys here, four races each night – Bremen has a long tradition of motor pace.

But the organisers should be asking why the stands are almost empty – albeit the bars and discos are jumping and Franco says that the organisers are happy with how the opening night went.

The big chase wasn’t a bad race at all – it really sparked with around 17 minutes to go when Peter Schep launched a huge attack.

Danny Stam’s partner, Erik Mohs wasn’t having a good night, though.

And whilst Jesper was looking good, his partner, Thino Thomel wasn’t looking so sharp.

The night ended with Franco and Kalz in the overall lead; I said the other day that Kalz wasn’t a top-level rider – maybe not, but he’s a big strong boy and fast.

The two also won the 500 metre time trial, with Brad and partner Ralf Matzka riding well and leading until Gramann/Ratajczyk shaved their time.

Marc Hester was man of the night with three wins – ‘Super sprint,’ Devil and Derny.

His family and fan club were down from Denmark, so he couldn’t disappoint.

And the bottle?

Afternoon and evening session tomorrow – ouch!

And I almost forgot, there was a fresh band tonight who had a Hispanic thing going on – but it’s always a bad thing when the lead singer says; ‘rock it!’

Bremen Six Day - Results from Day Two