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Introduction to Track Racing - What's a Wheelrace? - Introduction to Six Day racing
The Sid Patterson Grand Prix - IM
Vodafone Arena, Melbourne, Australia, March 29, 2003
Main page Results Sid Patterson GP Champion of Champions
Other races
By Mal Sawford in Melbourne
French smashes lap record
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A late addition to the program was four times World Junior Champion Mark French. Fresh from his first up Senior competition win at the Mexico World Cup only a week before, the 18 year old who is only home for a week was able to arrange a late entry, going a long way to address criticisms leveled at AIS riders for not supporting domestic events.
The young speedster, who set a personal best 200 metre time of 10.2 seconds in Mexico, attacked the lap record of 13.050 seconds set by Jobie Dajka earlier this year, and recorded a phenomenal 12.732 seconds (despite a morning gym session), at an average speed of over 70km/h! Asked what it was like to ride a bike at 70km/h around a 250 metre track he responded, "It's OK once you get used to it!"
...And takes Sprint Derby and Keirin
French also dominated both the Aces Sprint Derby and Keirin events, winning both heats and finals with consistently fast times. Clearly in another league to the best domestic riders, his tactics were unchanged in all four rides: get to the front with a lap and half to travel, and go flat out to the line! There aren't too many riders world wide who can pass a rider covering the final 200 metres in 10.7 seconds, and there were none to be found in Melbourne tonight.
Goss dominates women's events
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Adding to the Tasmanian flavour on the night was the addition to the women's fields of champion juniors Belinda Goss and Kirby Piscioneri. Goss has spent quite a bit of time in Melbourne over the past few months, having competed in both the Bay Series Criteriums and the Geelong World Cup race. With main rivals Lizzie Williams and Lyndelle Higginson both non-starters, Goss was clearly the class rider of the field, and took out both the Scratch and Elimination races with confident rides.
Former speed skater Catherine Allen prevented a clean sweep by taking out the Motorpaced race with a good attack at the bell, forcing the Tasmanian to settle for second placing Goss relished the chance to compete in a strong Women's field, a rare opportunity in her home state.
Victorian juniors in action
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The Victorian team to contest the Under 15 and Under 17 Australian Championships were presented during the carnival, and the juniors were given a rare opportunity to race on the indoor arena. After a combined Italian Pursuit, the J17's competed in both Motorpaced and Scratch races, with Shaun Morris and Mario Giramondo taking wins, while the J15's Scratch race went to an impressive Leigh Howard. At the 2002 Australian Championships, Victorian Juniors won more medals than the other states combined, so this crop has some big shoes to fill!
Rossendall wins Aces Scratch
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An exciting Aces Scratch race closed the evening, with the event turning into a hammer session early on. After Sean Finning turned up the pace five laps in, each rider in turn seemed to lift the pace higher! Junior World Pursuit Champion Mark Jamieson did a turn that blew Todd Wilksch and Joel Leonard out the back, and when former Victorian Pursuit Champion Mark Roach showed what he could do, even Darren Young looked in trouble. With six laps remaining, Richard England burst from the remnants of the bunch, and extended his lead to half a lap. Only Stephen Rossendall could mount a chase, and with a well timed effort, the Tasmanian caught the tiring England in the final straight to pull off a great win. Young capped off another record setting night with a good sprint to take third, ahead of former Tasmanian, big Rob Wilson.
Results
Women's Scratch Race 1 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) 2 Kirby Piscioneri (Tasmania) 3 Catherine Allen (Blackburn CC) 4 Jenny Macpherson (Carnegie Caulfield CC) J15/17 Italian Pursuit 1 Back straight team Aces Sprint Derby 1 Mark French (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 10.755 2 Damien Kierl (Ballarat/Sebastapol CC) 3 Shane Perkins (Carnegie Caulfield CC) Women's Elimination 1 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) 2 Catherine Allen (Blackburn CC) 3 Catherine Arlove (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Kerrie Baumgartner (St Kilda CC) Under 17 Scratch Race 1 Shaun Morris (Shepparton CC) 2 Taigh Banson (Shepparton CC) 3 Mario Giramondo (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Zak Dempster (Bendigo CC) Flying Lap Record Attempt (Previous record J Dajka 13.050) 1 Mark French (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 12.732 Under 17 Motorpace 1 Mario Giramondo (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 2 Abe Hastwell (Ararat CC) 3 Taigh Banson (Shepparton CC) 4 Zak Dempster (Bendigo CC) Women's Motorpace 1 Catherine Allen (Blackburn CC) 2 Belinda Goss (Tasmania) 3 Jenny Macpherson (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 4 Kirby Piscioneri (Tasmania) C Grade Elimination 1 Reece Ingram (Brunswick CC) 2 Evan Corry (Bendigo CC) 3 Darryl Kierl (Ballarat/Sebastapol CC) 4 Russell Poole (Blackburn CC) Aces Keirin 1 Mark French (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 10.826 2 Jason Niblett (Horsham CC) 3 Brad Norton (Shepparton CC) 4 Damien Kierl (Ballarat/Sebastapol CC) Under 15 Scratch Race 1 Leigh Howard (Geelong West CC) 2 Mathew Wood (Horsham CC) 3 Luke Gooley (Shepparton CC) 4 Anthony Rix (Bendigo CC) B Grade Elimination 1 Kain Nunn (Blackburn CC) 2 Steve Martin (Blackburn CC) 3 Carl Cubitt (Coburg CC) 4 Michael Walsh (Melton CC) A Grade Elimination 1 Ben Rix (Bendigo CC) 2 Tommy Nankervis (Carnegie Caulfield CC) 3 Mitchell Docker (Brunswick CC) 4 Brenton Crawley (NSW) 150m Aces Scratch Race 1 Stephen Rossendell (Tasmania) 2 Richard England (Blackburn CC) 3 Darren Young (Tasmania) 4 Robert Wilson (Footscray CC)
