American Sam Ermolenko surprised everyone with his unique style of baling out at Oxford Stadium last Friday.

He is not called Sudden Sam for nothing after laying his bike down mid-race and clearing the fence, Sally Gunnell-style, and then disappearing from view.

Referee Frank Ebdon was as shocked as anyone and told me he had never seen anything like it before.

When I asked him if the rider had been excluded or retired, he replied: "I'm just considering what penalty I can impose on him, because it was a completely new experience."

In the end, Ermolenko was fined around 50 for 'ungentlemanly conduct'.