105th Austral Wheelrace - IM

Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia, March 16, 2003

Results Austral Wheelrace Other races

2003 Victorian Keirin Championship

Keirin to Hopkins

By Mal Sawford in Melbourne

Leigh De Luca
Photo: © Mikkeli Godfree

The Keirin Final was taken out by a flying Shaun Hopkins, with a quick final 200 meters covered in 10.983 seconds. Leongatha Wheelrace winner Damien Keirl continued his good form with a fine second place, relegating former World Champion Bayley to the Bronze medal. Leigh De Luca earned the wrath of Chief Commissaire Doug Armstrong for taking to the start line with a flashing taillight stuck to the back of his helmet, falling foul of the little known 'not taking things seriously enough' rule!

The Under 19 Keirin was taken out by Forges Wheelrace winner Shane Perkins, with Ben Rix and Sam Witmitz taking the minor placings.

With the Keirin heats held not long after the Austral final, Darren Young was somewhat disadvantaged to draw the first heat, as he failed to qualify for the final - his only non winning ride on the night! Blackburn's Barry Woods took out the first heat from VIS rider Brad Norton, with a strong sprint a lap and half from home.

Shaun Hopkins was a comfortable winner of the second heat, with local rider Leigh De Luca's gamble of fitting 175mm road cranks and a huge gear paying off as he snatched the second qualifying place. Burly Ballarat sprinter Damien Keirl upstaged pre-race favorite Ryan Bayley to win the third heat, with sentimental favorite Gary Neiwand unable to qualify.

The final was a relatively straight forward affair. After some early jostling for position behind the motor bike between De Luca and Hopkins, with the former Junior World Champion the victor, De Luca took over pace making duties once the derny swung off. In the dash to the line, Hopkins showed his class taking the Victorian Championship with a sizzling final 200 meter time of 10.983 seconds. Keirl once again had too much raw speed for a tiring Bayley, who had ridden a full program, and was the only home state rider to feature in the medals.

Race winner Hopkins thanked the good crowd for its support, and hoped to be able to return to the venue on many more occasions.

The final event in the Fitzroy Cycles International Cycling Series for 2002/03 is the Sid Patterson Grand Prix on March 29, featuring the Champions Wheelrace, where the winners of all the major Australian Wheelraces will ride off to determine the 'Champion of Champions'.

Jockey Australia Victorian Kierin Championship

1. Shaun Hopkins (NSW)			
2. Damien Keirl (Ballarat-Sebastapol CC)		
3. Ryan Bayley (Western Australia)		
4. Brad Norton (Shepparton CC)

Photography

Images by Mikkeli Godfree/Cyclingnews.com

Leigh De Luca taking no chances as he warms up
Leigh De Luca in the second keirin heat
Leigh De Luca hitting out at the bell

Images by Mal Sawford/Cyclingnews.com

Neiwand's custom painted BT Superbike
Commisaire Doug Armstrong discusses the offending taillight with the culprit
The offending tail light
Bayley and Neiwand warm up
De Luca on the start line for the Kierin

Results

Victorian Keirin Championship
 
1 Shaun Hopkins (NSW)
2 Damien Keirl (Ballarat/Sebastapol CC)
3 Ryan Bayley (Western Australia)
4 Brad Norton (Shepparton CC)

Under 19 Kierin
 
1 Shane Perkins (Carnegie Caulfield CC)
2 Ben Rix (Bendigo CC)
3 Sam Witmitz (Horsham CC)
4 Michael Hill (Shepparton CC)