Bayley to ride Sydney Thousand

By Les Clarke

In his first race since January this year, Dual Olympic gold medallist Ryan Bayley has agreed to compete in the Sydney Thousand on November 27. It's a major boost for the track festival, with Bayley one of the most sought-after riders for the meet.

The young West Australian agreed to terms with promoter John Scott to ride at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in a total of four events, joining Australian track cycling stars Anna Meares, Shane Kelly, Ben Kersten and Kerrie Meares in racing at this festival which has been brought back to life by Scott during 2005. Scott identified Bayley's signature as a vital tool in making the Sydney Thousand a success - and understandably he's extremely pleased.

Scott said it's a "huge step for this race. Our next target is Theo Bos and then Rene Wolff; if we get these two we'll then have a world-class match sprint."

Scott has been trying to lure Bos to Australia in November to take on Bayley after the Australian beat the young Dutch rider in last year's Olympic sprint final to take the gold. "We've been making contact with Bos' people in Amsterdam, and it looks pretty good," Scott said about the progress of negotiations.

But for now Scott has secured his biggest signing to date, and although Bayley was injured in January this year while racing at the Rockhampton Cup on Wheels, he's been back in training with the AIS in Adelaide during the past three months and is hungry to compete at the highest level again. Scott is confident of being able to sign both Bos and Wolff, so the stage would be set for a match sprint second only to the Olympic offering, and a calibre of racing not seen in Sydney since the 2000 Olympics.