A TRADESMAN always needs to have the best tools for the job and it's just what Winchester's Rob Hurd needed to regain his winning ways

After taking delivery of his new team bike on Friday, Hurd tested it out at the Omega circuit race at Thruxton on Saturday.

On lap two of the 14, Hurd made his move to join fellow Winchester rider Danny Axford in a front group that also included VC St Raphael rider Rowan Horner and a host of other elite category riders.

The field split into three distinct groups who were always within sight and with two laps to go and just as Hurd was about to make his bid for victory, the race official's car moved alongside the riders, informing them that they were cutting the race short as the two races on the circuit were going to come together.

Leaving them short of options the Bio-Agrico rider made a strong move on the final climb up to the circuit's famous chicane that enters the walled finishing straight. But with strong sprinters such as the Evans Cycles rider Justin Hoy in the group, it was not meant to be. Hoy blazed across the line for the win with Axford eighth and Hurd 11th.

Moving to one of the south's other famous motor racing circuits at Goodwood on Sunday, it was an altogether more pleasant day.

Hurd made his move early, splitting the race and forming a front group of 12. At half distance another selection was forced as the distance started to take its toll on the riders, and with six laps remaining the Belgian sponsored rider's attacks took the group down to a more manageable six riders.

With some strong sprinters such as Liphook Cycles' Paul Pickup and the previous day's victor Hoy in the group, Simon Brooks (VC St Raphael) made his move but just as it looked like he would stay away on his own, Hurd launched his final attack to regain the lead.

With two laps left, the pair had a lead of 20 seconds, but as Hurd out- sprinted Brooks for the win, they had extended the lead to one minute and 15 seconds.

With little time to train as he finishes PhD at university, Axford also managed a solid performance in the Thames Velo road race on Sunday which was won by Olympian Stuart Dangerfield. The Artic Shorter RT team leader came home in tenth.

RESULTS

1 Rob Hurd (Bioagrico E) 2:28:24, 2 Simon Brooks (VC St Raphael E), 3 Justin Hoy (Evans Cycles) @ 1:33, 4 Paul Pickup (Liphook Cycles, 5 Roger Morgan (Stilton), 6 Lee Day (Liphook Cycles) @ 1:51, 7 Toby Neave (Liphook Cycles) @ 2:14 8, Ashley Holding (Tunbridge Wells) @ 6:28, 9 Lewis Atkins (Glendene), 10 Simon McNamara (Tunbridge Wells) @ 1 lap.

Omega Circuit Races (Thruxton):

1 Justin Hoy (Evans Cycles), 2 James Taylor (www,sports-coaching.com/ QES / Impsport), 3 Lewis Atkins (Glendene CC), 4 Jason Streather (VC St Raphal), 5 Rowan Horner (VC St Raphal), 6 Serge Scott (Comedy Super Team / Eddie Griffin Light Haulage), 7 Lee Day (Liphook Cycles), 8 Danny Axford (Artic Shorter Rochford), 9 Roger Morgan (Stilton), 10 Simon Brooks (VC St Raphal).