I have been sitting back watching the Aussies warming up for the world Championships that are to be held on our local tracks , early next year , again after the last ones here in 2005. I was priveliged enough to take in some of those titles at the Salisbury track ,not long after getting involved in the sport , what an introduction!

I was in awe of the level of competition and fierceness of the rivalry between the visiting nations , some even brought their own TV station cameramen and host! this makes the next one all that more exciting as the last one we crowned one of our own senior World champion (Daniel Pudney) and the Junior World champion too ( Clarkey ).Can Pudney repeat this feat?

Training has been pretty good ,mainly at the findon club , midweek , but nightime raids on other local tracks where these titles are being held is showing some spirited training. Robert Fleming has been cracking the whip on the track and a little bird told me Steve Clarke has been putting it to them in the gym.

I was at a recent training night at the salisbury track when Mick Harley has come over to tell me that for the third consecutive titles a Salisbury rider has been chosen as the junior World captain , that being Cody Chadwick. Congratulations as a better choise I couldn't find either and apparently the choise was unaminous! Prior Captains being Josh Ison and Matt Mathews.

Cody is the sort of captain you want on your side as he's so dedicated to winning and has displayed a win at all costs attitude , when earlier this year he ruptured some panatella thingy in his knee and finished the meet before getting it seen to at hospital where he returned on crutches. He dosent ask anyone to do something he wouldnt do himself , is a born leader , has the backing of the entire squad and best of all , he's up for it! Go get em Cody!

While we are on about Aussie Captains , we shouldn't for get the seniors as well , and congratulations go to Daniel Pudney from the LeFevre club , who also displays the same qualities that is needed in a Captain , especially with the international experience Daniel has had , along with being a former World Champion himself , and these being his home tracks again.

Speaking of tracks , the word is the Salisbury track is being closed for a short period for a track upgrade for the coming titles.This has been on the books for sometime now and looks like becoming a reality sometime soon. Work and racing will have to fit in with council planning and of course our fickle weather patterns lately as they need about a week or so of fine weather to complete the work.

The Salisbury track has always been a reasonably good track with a great dolomite racing surface that gets faster when heaps of water is applied.Thats not going to change , except maybe it will be a little faster as the bumps are being removed and a perfectly smooth racing surface restored. I cant wait to see some of the timetrials carried out on a fast grippy smooth track.