Bonser plays his part for team

MOSSLEY professional Ryan Bonser turned in a strong performance in the National Circuit Race Championship in East Yorkshire, riding hard and helping team leader Dean Downing take the coveted jersey.

The 22-year-old was part of a 12-strong Rapha Condor-Recycling team who lined up for the prestigious event, watched by hundreds of spectators who lined the small circuit around Beverley marketplace.

The pace was kept high throughout by several solo attacks — including one from Bonser which saw him gain around half a lap’s advantage over most of the field.

But he was pulled back, and when Downing managed to escape alongside Keighley rival Tom Barras, Bonser retreated to the bunch in a bid to stop any of their rivals mounting a challenge.

Bonser and the rest of the Rapha squad managed to stop most attacks, but when one got clear with newly-crowned National Road Race Champion Rob Hayles, Downing spotted the danger and attacked almost straight away, holding his narrow lead to the line to win from Hayles and Tony Gibb.

And 48 hours later Bonser was back in action in the East Yorkshire Classic, the eighth round of the Premier Calendar which was also in Beverley, on Sunday.

Once again, Bonser rode intelligently and managed to get in the race-long winning break, which went early in the 130-kilometre race.

Eventually he dropped back to the bunch as the pace proved too much, but his team-mates Kristian House and Downing went on to finish second and third respectively, with Russell Downing — brother of Dean who rides for the rival Pinarello RT squad — taking his sixth series win.

This Sunday, Bonser is expected to be back in action in the Tour of Pendle, the penultimate round of the Premier Calendar.