OAKWORTH'S Tom Moses raced to victory in the opening round of the Motorpoint Grand Prix Series in Staffordshire.

Run over 18 laps of a 5.4-kilometre course, the RideStaffs Kermesse was won in style by the 24-year-old JLT Condor rider, who showed his power when he won the opening stage of the Tour of the Reservoir in the Motorpoint Spring Cup in April.

And to cap a great night for John Herety's outfit, team-mates Russell Downing and Otley Grand Prix winner Chris Lawless took second and third respectively.

With ten laps to go, Moses launched a brave solo attack and caught the leading bunch napping with its ferocity. He gained 18 seconds lead in the space of half a lap, and after two laps alone he was 1min 11sec ahead and gathering pace, travelling at speeds of up to 37miles per hour on the flat.

His lead fell away to around a minute at one point, but a turn of great power on the climb saw it jump back out to 1:38 with five laps to go.

With four laps to go the bunch galvanised their chase, with Keighley director sportif Tom Barras' NFTO and Pedal Heaven prominent. But Moses' lead was hanging around a minute and a half and it would take a big chase to hunt him down.

Madison Genesis took their turn on the front as the bunch tried to hunt Moses down, but the lone leader was giving it everything, reaching speeds up to 40mph at times.

Ten kilometres from the finish and Moses still had a lead of around 1:25 over the chasing bunch, but the pain was showing as he ploughed round the course twice more.

On the final climb the former Oakbank pupil dug in one last time and powered up to take the win, while behind him his team-mates ensured a clean sweep of the podium.

“I’m pretty happy with that,” said Moses with typical understatement. “We need to win a few races to make sure we get in the Tour of Britain.

“When I first went (for the attack) I thought it was stupid and that I would never stay away. I just imagined John telling me off when I got caught with three to go and went out the back!

“I’m feeling confident. My aim for the second half of the year was to win one of these rounds and I’ve done it in the first one, so I’ll have to go and win another one now!”