Jake Kelly was Team Microgaming-Isle of Man’s top finisher in the British National Junior Road Race Series final standings. The 17-year-old, racing in his first year at junior level, scored points consistently over the eight race series despite being hampered in recent weeks by a broken wrist. He ended the season in 20th place in the overall standings with 46 points and only just missed out on a top 10 finish on GC in the recent Junior Tour of Wales - the three day race which was the final event in the national series.
The series - which includes the Sleepwell Hotels Isle of Man Youth Tour - was won by Alex Peters (Mosquito Bikes) who finished with 218 points. Tao Geoghegan Hart (CC Hackney) was second with 195 points, and Harry Tanfield (Team Wallis CHH Racing) third with 184 points. Manx rider Josh Knights (Mountivation Development Academy) finished 24th in the final standings with 29 points. Nick Corlett and Alex Haddock also acquitted themselves well while representing Team Microgaming-Isle of Man during the series.
However, the team’s best performance this season by a junior rider was Jake Kelly’s third place in British National Junior Road Race Championship in May. He won the bronze medal after a 125km race held on a testing course near the Brecon Beacons in South Wales. The National Junior Road Race is run as a separate event from the National Junior Road Race Series.
The British National Junior Road Race Series is still popularly known as the ‘Pete Buckley Series’ as for many years it was named in memory of the Manx rider who won the Commonwealth Games gold in Jamaica in 1966. Buckley had a promising career ahead of him but tragically died in an accident while training in 1969. He was 25-years-old. Over the years the junior series named after him has been a proving ground for many Manx and British pro riders. The last Manxman to win it was Team Sky professional and London 2012 Olympic team pursuit gold medallist Peter Kennaugh in 2007. Manxmen Steve Joughin and Mike Doyle also won the series before going on to pro careers in the 1980s. Microgaming has been the title sponsor of the Isle of Man national cycling team since 2008. This season the team is also supported by Eurocars which has supplied a team car for the squad.
Photo copyright of Richard Allen
