ALISON WRIGHT
How about a "roadie" taking dual silver medals.
"Yeh I'm really happy with how I've done, I'm a roadie and I've only had two weeks intensive
track training and I came here not knowing what to expect, so you've gotta be happy with two
silvers".
And this isn't the first time you've won silver.
No as a junior two years ago, in '98 I went to the junior worlds and did the pursuit and got a
silver medal. So I've got a good background which is why two weeks is enough to kinda get me
back into it I think".
So is there any chance of swinging over to more track work.
"It's not out of the question, I definately think my road helped. I had a hard year of road last year
and I'm leaving in two weeks again to go to Italy with the road team and this will only make me stronger.
If I do decide to do pursuiting later this year or in the years to come, I think the road background is
whats going to help me with it".
KAREN BARROW
On winning that womens Point score gold
"Yeh I'm really happy, it makes up for that scratch race where I crashed out. No, its good to finally get a
medal and a gold one".
On all those crashes in the womens races.
"I think it was more sort of nervousness in the bunch. People were swinging up from second wheel and it makes
it very unpredictable. The crash I was involved in we were moving around the side of the bunch and a girl from New
Zealand, I think she was a bit nervous and didn't realize what she should be doing. So that was a bit unfortunate".
But you copped it twice.
"I was unfortunate to get involved in that one. A couple of the girls got squeezed down onto the
duck boards and we just hooked up handlebars".
What about getting that lap up.
"Well Rochelle was going pretty good in the sprints and picking up points early in the race and I knew
straightaway that the only way anyone was going to win the race was to take a lap. So I just waited till everyone looked
a bit tired, made the move and Alison Wright with Symeko Jochinke and we were able to get a lap and keep it together".
And then you nearly went off the back.
"Yeh when we did lap the field I was a bit tired and I was really struggling to keep the pace, so there was a couple of times
I got caught out on the back. I just couldn't sprint all. At one stage I was about 20-30 metres off the back and I was really struggling
but I got back on".
And in the end you got those double points in the last sprint.
"Yeh I was really lucky that I was able to did really deep in that last sprint and get those points".
BEN KERSTEN
Our exclusive in depth interview with Ben Kersten ...click here...
CHARLIE WALSH
Your views on the championships Charlie.
"I've thought there's been some very good performances and we've been very happy with the
developement in some areas. Sean Eadie is one that comes to mind, ben Kersten we're very
happy with his progress, that of Jobie Dajka. We're very impressed with two young western
australians with Dawson and Bayley. I like Bayley, he's aggressive, he has a go and doesn't
go for the soft options. So that was impressive. Young Katherine Bates from here, I thought
she was very, very good, very impressive, good quality times. So theres a couple of good
youngsters all coming through".
One thing about the championships, it certainly shows the depth of young people we have
coming through which must look good for the future.
"Oh I think they've certainly got some good talent to come through and I'd like to think that
in a few years that they'll be on top of the drugs and when that is done Australia will be
right back on top".
I know your a great crusader against the taking of drugs and there is talk of the AIS and
growth hormone abuse.
"Yes, we're facing problems here in Australia unfortunately, but that shouldn't stop us from
standing up and pursuing everything as aggressively as we can"".
And any thoughts on what you might be doing in your retirement.
"Just relax and do some things with my wife, spend some time because I'm getting on in life
and my wife has been very patient putting up with someone whose away a lot of the time. I feel
that if you say your stepping out then you get out and let the other people get on with the job
and do it the way they want to do it".
