Two in a Roe for James

JAMES ROE made it two wins in a row by completing a convincing victory around the Pleinmont course in the second race of the Ian Brown's and Arrowsmith Marlowe MTB Championship.

The Velo Club were kindly allowed to use the motocross track for the race, which extended the lap distance and added in some different terrain and obstacles for the riders.

With the start staggered to avoid too much of a rider build up, Roe was soon at the head of the field leading from Jon Osborn and Stuart Le Tissier.

Roe quickly established an advantage over the chasing riders, while Osborn and Le Tissier were joined by Jamie Burtenshaw as the main chasing group.

However, a crash for Burtenshaw led to him losing contact with that group.

Leon Ogier, Philip Touzeau, Andy Gibson and Ben Walden formed a second group who set about trying to close down the lead riders' advantage.

As the riders entered the final stages of the race, Roe had an unassailable lead in the elite category with Osborn narrowly ahead of Touzeau who had caught Le Tissier after a crash.

Ogier suffered mechanical problems, which forced him to retire leaving Gibson in fifth.

Roe crossed the line to make it consecutive wins, but the return of Rob Smart in the next race should make Roe's championship challenge more difficult.