The 2009 boneskakersbikes.com cycle racing team had their team launch on Saturday 21st February at the shop on Albert Street in Harrogate. The team has been strengthened this year with three 1st Category riders, which has given the team a good blend of youth and experience. The team plans to ride the Premier Calendar Series which attracts the UK's best professional and amateur riders and a good mix of National B and Regional level races on the road. The team will also ride local and national level time trials lead by Steve Smales, a prolific winner of local time trials over recent years.

The new recruits include Dave Whyman, Aussie powerhouse who has an excellent palmares and is aiming to make an impression on the Elite Criterium Series; Jamie Burgan and Philip Holwell, Sheffield based riders are another strong addition to the team with both having had success at National level. Another new recruit is the 19yr old Matt Williams, a mountain biker who is going to focus on the road this season. The existing 2008 team riders include Craig Stevenson, Matt Mannakee, Oliver Pearce and Tim Moorhouse who have been training together throughout the winter and are all looking forward to the start of the season.

The team's major sponsors include locally based Yorkshire Tea, Shop & Munch, Prego, P R Motors, and Piccadilly Motors.

Team News

30th March 2009

This weekend Boneshakersbikes.com cycle racing team had riders competing in the Philip Russell Road Race and Circuit of the Dales Time Trial.

The Philip Russell RR held on the Seamer circuit near Stokesley over 115km. The race winning move was started by a lone attack from Matt Mannakee after 25 miles and he was joined by 7 other riders 5 miles later to form the leading break, these riders worked together for 45 miles. It looked like the winner would come from this group but they were caught by another 6 riders with just 8 miles to the finish. Phil Axe (Sharrow RC) attacked with 6 miles to go and took an impressive solo win, Matt Mannakee was placed 9th.

In the Circuit of the Dales a very tough mountain time trial which has been run over the last 60 years. The race is held on the roads around Hawes, taking in Kirby Lonsdale, Sedburgh and Newby Head over a grueling 48.5 miles. Steve Smales was an impressive 11th in his first race of the season, his time was 2hrs08min52secs and Glen Turnbull took 25th 2hrs16min30secs.

Over the Easter Weekend, the team has 5 riders in the Tour of the Border 4-day stage race in Northumberland. The stages take in some of the hardest climbs including the Gibbet and they will cover over 250miles in the four days of racing!

23rd March 2009

Craig Stevenson took an impressive win in the Surrey League RR, Tandridge in tough conditions over 70 miles for 2nd/3rd category riders last Saturday. He instigated the 6 rider break which stayed away for 55 miles and with 15 miles to go the bunch were closing in on the leaders and he attacked with two others and won the sprint for the his first win of the season. Nearer home Oliver Pearce was 6th in Harrogate Nova Hilly Time Trial, in blustery conditions he posted 1h01min25s and the race was won by Julian Ramsbottom.

On Sunday the team took their 2nd win on two days, Martin Vesty won the bunch sprint in the Seacroft Wheelers RR nr Selby. The race was held in cold and sunny conditions over 40 miles, with the circuit being fast and flat the race was destined to finish in 60 up sprint. Matt Mannakee led the sprint from 500 metres out and Vesty came off the wheel to take the win by half a bike length, Matt Mannakee took 10th.

Next weekend the team are riding the Philip Russell Memorial RR in Stokesley over 100km.