The 41-year-old veteran defied his sketchy form-line to take the honours in the Eric Turner Memorial club criterium championships.

Morgan was "surprised" to cross the finish line first in a star-studded field at the VUT Circuit in Hoppers Crossing on Saturday.

"I haven't had a win for over a year," he said. "I've had some patchy form over the past six months. I had put that down to being 41 and started to resign myself to not winning too many races in the future."

Morgan will wear the coveted No.1 jersey next season. The A grade champion had to stave off a talented crop of riders that included defending champion Steve Pilson, gun sprinter Dom Dudkiewicz, former winner Graham Carlson and a host of young up and comers eager to etch their names in the record books.

The favourites were left frustrated as they missed the winning break. Danny Bellis, Ben O'Leary, Darren Henneken, Miles DaCosta and Josh Zammit formed a breakaway and it took about 10 minutes for Steve Antonello, Chris Zucchet and eventual winner Morgan to bridge the gap. Come the middle of the race, O'Leary was the only original member of the break to survive, with Antonello, Zucchet and Morgan taking turns to lead.

Once the foursome had established a half-lap lead, the dispirited bunch containing the big-name riders lost momentum and it was clear that one of the breakaway four would become the next club champion.

Going into the last corner, Zucchet could sniff success, but he lost control of his bike and crashed at the most inopportune time.

Antonello was forced into evasive action off track and that left Morgan and O'Leary in a sprint to the finish.

Morgan staved off O'Leary to win, after which he paid tribute to the volunteers in his winning speech.

"I wanted to acknowledge the great work that happens behind the scenes at Footscray," he said.

"Racing doesn't happen by default, it only happens because of enthusiastic people and it's meaningful to be part of a club that has a level of enthusiasm.

"I've been to a lot of clubs both here and interstate and none are run as well as this one."

Perennial bridesmaid Mark Micallef managed to hold off gun sprinters Colin Morris and Delphine Astier for line honours in B grade.

Andrew Schieseck, a rider from Tarneit, staved off a bunch finish to beat teenage sensation Stephen Liley in C grade.

The D grade trophy went to newcomer Glen Detering, who beat Tim Marcus and Glenn Wilkins.