Showing that he does have a less-serious side to his competitive nature, Windsor actually went to the effort of dressing up in a modified Santa Claus outfit for the race.

Sporting the full beard, Santa hat and a vest, Windsor joked that the event was a tune-up for what must be a taxing effort on Christmas Eve for the big man in the red suit – and promptly went out and won it.

Starting from scratch along with fellow-backmarkers Conor Trott, Craig Hutton, Gus Tobin and younger brother Blair Windsor, the reigning Blayney to Bathurst champion charged through the field to claim a fitting win.

Having recently announced a deal to head to English team Rapha Condor, Windsor was riding for maybe the last time in his all red Drapac Porsche attire as well as the additional Santa-themed clobber. He admitted to feeling the heat in the Bathurst event.

“That helmet cover might be okay at the North Pole, but it needs a few vents punched in it for the Aussie summer,” he joked.

Budget Forklifts rider Blair Windsor led out his brother at the finish and was good enough to come second with the speedy Hutton third, while former NSW track medallist Andrew Carter continued his come back to the sport, finishing fourth in front of last week’s Sydney Junior Wheel race winner Harrison Jones.

In the C and D grade Hamper Handicap 12-year-old Jess Marshall rode a strong race to take her first senior win on the road in Bathurst.

The day before, the older Windsor brother finished 15th while Blair crossed the line 13th in the Forest Reefs Tavern Christmas Cup in Orange, the race taken out by local Rod Farrell ahead of Bathurst pair Steve Brilley and Bruce Goddard.

Another Bathurst rider in Danielle Goddard was the fastest woman on the day while she also managed to finish sixth overall in a stand-out effort.