I was shocked and gutted to learn just now that Mike Burton is no longer with us. Mike was one of the first people I met through racing with West Coast Masters and was one person whom I would always look forward to racing or riding with. He had a fantastic sense of humour and his work ethic on the bike was second to no other person I got to know through the club.
I first raced with Mike during the Masters 2011 road race season (my first) in C grade and I recall vividly how impressed I was by his ability to knock out riders (not literally of course) with his incredible sprint. He was a true inspiration to me and given my inexperience in bicycle racing at the time, I made a point of being able to compete in a sprint like Mike. I like to think that my ability now to do so is a direct result of the impression he left on me.
Mike and I progressed through the grades at West Coast Masters together and we had a fantastic friendly rivalry to try and out-sprint each other when it came down to it. While he was always a fierce competitor, it goes without saying that he would also be there for his comrades on course and help them through some of the more difficult phases of a race. I was often lucky enough to be on the receiving end of his assistance (even if it meant he sacrificed his own chances of placing) and at times I felt so inadequate in his presence as I struggled to keep up with him. But he would always pull me through whether it was in the pack or when we were both stuck in no-man's land.
I was upset to hear the news of Mike's passing and I wish his family and friends all the strength needed to get through this hard time. Mike will be sorely missed at the club and out on the road by many, especially myself.
I hope I can do you proud, Mike. You'll be a part of every sprint I do. So long friend.
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You can find a Memorial web page for Mike here.
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