Corsa Italia Grand Prix

The JetFuel Coffee boys lined up in impressive numbers in anticipation of dominating the 1st Annual Corsa Italia GP. Returning from an impressive and wet 4th place at the Univest road race the previous day was Espoir Provincial champ Ryan Roth. Also tired and sore was team captain Andrew Randell and the Hansen brothers who also made the long trip. Joining in was local resident Stig Somme, Thorben Wiedtz fresh off his 2nd at Multi-Laser and Josh Hall who somehow managed to finish San Fran. Also in attendance was Tim Lefebvre who was eager to prove a thing or two on a course that suited him perfectly, and with a win at Mult-Laser and third in Windsor, he predicted good legs.

Held in Toronto on September 19, the race used part of the classic St. Clair course, that was originally held back in the eighties. Modified, the course had an evil 180 after the finish followed by some tight turns and chicanes, with a long straight false flat into the finish. The Pro 1/2 field lined up, facing 40 laps, totaling 100km.

Under perfect sunny conditions and amidst a healthy Italian crowd, the pace was fast from the gun. Chasing $100 primes every two laps, the Gears, Ital and Midweek teams kept their eyes on the prize, but it was Weidtz and Lefebvre taking the first two and helping a lead break of eight form.

In the eventual winning move we counted four of ours, Randell, Weidtz, Lefebvre and Jeff Hansen, joined by Morse (Midweek), Sanowar (Ital), Pozniak (Gears) and strongmen Darko Ficko and Osmand Bakker. This move succeeded with JetFuel responsible for driving it up the road by thirty seconds. Randell, Hansen and Weidtz worked like a train with Lefebvre sitting on, picking up the $100 primes every two laps. Back in the peleton the Ital train had decided they didn't like the four to one odds and tried a train that ultimately proved no match for men fueled by JetFuel coffee.

Misfortunes begin to strike early as Hansen had a mechanical that removed him from the break, Lefebvre flatted and Weidtz couldn't handle one of Ficko's surges on the home stretch. With only two JetFuel left in the break, the team decided not to pull it any longer and thus let the "attacking" begin. The strength of Ficko and Randell were respected as neither were given any breathing room. With this in mind Lefebvre attacked on lap ten during a lull before the homestretch and pinned the hill as hard as he could go to gain the initial gap. Three laps later holding onto a thirty second lead, a second rear flat sidelined Lefebvre. Confusion reigned as the officials struggled with maintaining the advantage. Eventually Lefebvre was put back in the race with Pozniak, Ficko and Randell now separating themselves from the rest, pursuing the leader.

Gaining time each lap, Tim Lefebvre just days before his 37th birthday, finished alone more than a minute up in front of a very appreciating (and JetFuel friendly) crowd. Taking fourth was Randell with Josh Hall and Stig Somme also in the top ten.

The JetFuel race team would like to take this opportunity to thank the Midweek Club and Peter McCaffery for organizing this great event.