Cycing NSW

Ben KERSTEN'S GRAND SLAM MISSION (Birthday Boy 21/9/05)

Wollongong Olympian Ben Kersten has more than one thing to prove when he lines in the re-born Sydney Thousand track cycling classic at Dunc Gray Velodrome, Sunday afternoon, November 27.

The tall, good looking athlete who turned 24 yesterday, ( 21 Sept) is on a mission to prove he is the best all round velodrome rider in Australia by winning the Sydney Thousand as last leg of a memorable grand slam of track titles.

He finished last summer as the most dominant single force in track racing having picked up wins in the Sydney Cup, the Melbourne Cup On Wheels and the fabulous old Austral Wheelrace.

In the Sydney Cup also held at the Dunc Gray Velodrome, Ben started from the meagre mark of 10 metres.

In the other two events run in Melbourne, he started off absolute scratch and was able to whizz past the cream of Australian handicap riders - giving some of them nearly 200 metres start - before hitting the finish line in first place.

Some people say his will to win was fuelled by the fact he was a controversial late inclusion in the Athens Games team, but was not allowed to contest an event in anger, thus depriving him of the opportunity to display his substantial goods on the world stage.

The hero of the track cycling at Athens, as far as Australia was concerned, is Perth's Ryan Bayley, who won Gold Medals in the blue ribbon sprint and knock 'em down and drag 'em out eight-lap motorcycle paced keirin race.

Well, Kersten will confront Bayley in the Sydney Thousand and the keirin as well, at Dunc Gray.

Bayley whose powerful legs were the talk of the Games, has his own battle to prove he remains the world's best sprinter - that title coming from Athens - when he meets German World Champion Rene Wolff in the "Match Race of the Century" at Dunc Gray on the Sydney Thousand day.

This will be a classical battle over the best of three 1000 metres heats, fought out by two men endowed with the most explosive sets of legs in the world.

The drama here being Wolff won his 2005 world title in Los Angeles last Easter without having to confront Bayley who was out with broken bones, legacy of a race smash at Rockhampton in January.

What has got cycling types drooling like never before is the prospect of seeing that match up and, as well, Bayley, Wolff, the German's compatriot and travel mate Mathias John, Kersten and an additional two top riders yet to be named facing off in the keirin.

In fact, the Cycling NSW box office has experienced a mini rush as the word gets out and fans become keen to snap up the best seats for an afternoon's racing which is certain to be discussed for many a day.

Novacastrians led the charge, with Newcastle Velodrome CEO Denis Blundell plonking down a block reservation for 100 tickets.

Not surprising, really, when you consider that Newcastle, per capita has produced more sprint champions in cycling than any other location in Australia.

Names like seven times Australian Champion Bob Ryan, Olympians and World Championship finalists Ron Baensch, John Tressider and Ian Chapman, all began their stellar careers in the Hunter District.

Other regions in NSW where cycling is strong have heard the Sydney Thousand news and tickets are selling at a better than steady pace.

To avoid disappointment of the possibility of missing the premier seats, "buy early" is the word.

Further information: John E. SCOTT Events du Monde Tel: 0401968175

or Kevin YOUNG CEO Cycling NSW Tel: 9738 5850