Perkins desperate to race in Track World Cup

Commonwealth Games champion Shane Perkins is desperate to race in this week’s Track World Cup in Melbourne.

 

Not just because it will provide the opportunity to race against Sir Chris Hoy and the Great Britain outfit that skipped the Delhi Games.

 

Or because of the once-a-year opportunity to race for Australia in front of a hometown crowd.

 

The key reason the sprint star wants to be on the start line this week is so he doesn’t run the risk of missing the birth of his second child in a chase across the world for crucial Olympic qualifying points.

 

The 23-year-old has been battling a mystery illness and was forced to withdraw from the finals of the sprint at the Oceania championships in Adelaide last week after coach Sean Eadie found him “looking pretty pale, getting a bit shaky and sort of staring off into nothing,” after qualifying.

 

Perkins flew straight back to Melbourne and only returned to the bike this morning for a brief hit out, but he still doesn’t feel 100 per cent.

 

With Olympic qualifying points up for grabs Perkins will be forced to travel to Manchester in February to make up lost ground if he misses this week’s Track World Cup, which means running the risk of missing the birth of his second child.

 

“There is an interesting dilemma there because my wife is due with our second baby on about the 25th of February and if I miss out on Melbourne World Cup I have to potentially go to Manchester World Cup which is on the 18th to 20th of February,” Perkins said.

 

“So there is quite a lot of motivation to try and get right for this World Cup.”   

 

Perkins, who won the silver medal in the sprint at the world championships this year, will consult  Australian team medical staff and coaches before making a final decision following a spin around Hisense Arena on Wednesday.

 

“I am still feeling quite tired.  I have been sleeping nearly eleven,  twelve hours a night which is kind of a bit weird especially with a two-year-old.

 

“It’s a little bit worrying but I think it a combination of maybe a bit of gastro over there (in Adelaide) and also it being a long year, two years.   I haven’t had a break yet so it’s probably just the body telling me it needs a bit of a rest.

 

“I have got three weeks due after Melbourne World Cup so that’s quite comforting knowing that if I can get myself through the World Cup then I have got three weeks off, which is the longest I have had off in the last two and a half years so I am looking forward to that.

 

After dominating the Delhi Games and topping the table at the world championships in Poland earlier in the year, the Cyclones and Team Jayco-outfits will be keen to maintain their edge over their fierce rivals Great Britain, who dominated the last Olympic Games in Beijing winning seven gold medals.

 

Britain have brought a near full strength team to Melbourne, led by four-time Olympic and ten-time world champion Sir Chris Hoy, who missed Delhi in favour of collecting Olympic qualifying points at the recent European Championships.

 

Hoy will race the keirin and team sprint and is joined by fellow Olympic champions Jason Kenny(team sprint - 2008), Ed Clancy (teams pursuit – 2008) and Jason Queally (kilometre time trial – 2000).

 

Perkins will lead the strong Team Jayco AIS team sprint trio alongside Daniel Ellis and Jason Niblett.

 

Reigning world champion in the points race, Madison and teams pursuit, Cameron Meyer, will lead the charge in the endurance events teaming up with fellow world champion Leigh Howard in the Madison and playing a vital role in the teams pursuit quartet.

Australian National Team

• Katherine BATES (Sydney NSW, 18.05.1982)

• Alex BIRD (Flynn, ACT 06.03.1985)

• Jack BOBRIDGE ((Evaston Park SA, 13.07.1989)

• Matthew GLAETZER (Adelaide SA, 24.08.1992)

• Michael HEPBURN (Brookfield, QLD 17.09.1991)

• Melissa HOSKINS (Kalamunda WA, 24.02.1991)

• Leigh HOWARD (Waurn Ponds VIC, 18.10.1989)

• Sarah KENT (Duncraig WA, 10.02.1990)

• Scott LAW (Blacktown NSW, 09.03.1991)

• Peter LEWIS (Newcastle, NSW 01.02.1990)

• Cameron MEYER (Helena Valley, WA 11.01.1988)

• Anna MEARES (West Richmond, SA [formerly QLD] 21.09.1983)

• Scott SUNDERLAND (Hillarys, WA 16.03.1988)

• Josephine TOMIC (Perth WA, 09.06.1989)

Team Jayco-AIS

• Daniel ELLIS (Ngunnawal, ACT 07.10.1988)

• Kaarle MCCULLOCH (Gymea Bay, NSW 20.01.1988)

• Jason NIBLETT (Horsham, VIC 18.02.1983)

• Shane PERKINS (Hughesdale, VIC 31.12.1986)

• Emily ROSEMOND (Thorneside, QLD 11.03.1986)

Tickets for the event start from $9.50 through to $189 for the premium all sessions package and can be purchased through Ticketek on 132 849 or visit www.ticketek.com.au.

For detailed event schedules, event information and to apply for media accreditation please visitwww.trackworldcup.com.au.