THE Lotus Cars Cycle Race League got under way with a presentation of a cheque for �1,000 to Ellie Walker representing the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

THE Lotus Cars Cycle Race League got under way with a presentation of a cheque for �1,000 to Ellie Walker representing the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The money was raised during the 2009 Series – largely because Lotus made no charge for the use of their circuit and facilities at Hethel

The pace in this first event of the ten race series was hot from the start, with the field soon splitting into two. At the front, 18 year-old Tom Doe (VC Norwich) attacked with three laps to go and was joined Thetford teenager Matt Cook (API) and Dieter Rowe (Finchley RT)

Rowe led out of the last corner and held on to win. Doe outsprinted Cook to take second.

A field of 25 contested the Lotus Go-Race for riders aiming mainly for mass-start racing experience. Ben Mackett of the resurgent Great Yarmouth CC was the winner here from Steve Moore (NABC) and Lewis Bird (Great Yarmouth CC).

Result: 1 Dieter Rowe (Finchley RT), 2 T Doe (VC Norwich),3 M Cook API/Metrow), 4 B Nicholson (Extreme Sports Therapy), 5 M Auger (VC Norwich), 6 A Elderfield (VC Revolution), 7 M Hunter (Colchester Rovers), 8 D Zagni (Ipswich BC), 9 L Gentry (VC Barrachi),10 N Esser (VCB).

Go-Race (Novices):1 Ben Mackett (Great Yarmouth CC), 2 S Moore (NABC), 3 L Bird (Great Yarmouth CC), 4 J Browne (VC Norwich), 5 M Wild (VCN), 6 J Claxton (Great Yarmouth CC).