Japanese Keirin Stars Chase Big Money at Manchester

 

Story posted January 22

Event: Manchester UCI World Track Cup Event (final round)

Where: Manchester Velodrome, Feb 23-25

 

Podium from last time, Craig MacLean, Mickael Bourgain and Theo Bos with UCI President Pat McQuaid. Will the Japanese get a look in as the European stars chase the rich pickings on offer?

 

Five specialist Keirin racing stars from Japan will be amongst the contestants in the JKA (Japanese Keirin Association) Invitation Keirin race in Manchester on Sunday 25th February. Kazuya Narita, Masaki Inoue, Kazunari Watanabe, Shinichi Ota and Keiichiro Yaguchi all travel from Japan where the event is watched by millions of fans. The spectacular JKA Keirin at the Manchester Velodrome will be the last event on the final day of the World Cup 23rd - 25th February which also determines the overall champion nation.

Watanabe is the inform rider following his victory in the team sprint event at the Asia Games in December. Inoe has taken an incredible 108 victories from racing on the busy Keirin circuit in Japan and has finished in the top three in nearly 60% of all his races. Ota is the most experienced rider who won the Keirin Grand Prix in Japan and the men's kilometre time trial at the Asian games in 1999. The 31-year-old has amazingly ridden in 926 Keirin races at home and finished in the top three in over half of those.

The five Japanese sprinters will battle for the first prize of £15,000 euros against an international field that will be selected after the Track World Cup in Los Angeles over the weekend of 20th to 22nd January.

 

The spotlight on the riders falls in the Japanese Keirin where the money on offer ensures tight, fast and sometimes some physical racing in the push for the line.

 

Event Programme Information and ticket information
Full details of the UCI Track Cycling Manchester World Cup event programme can be found on www.worldtrackcycling.com  which includes a link directly to the Ticketmaster page for the event. Day ticket prices start at £12 for adults and £6 for children.

Track Centre Dining
This exciting spectacle can be viewed from the comfort of a dining table in the track centre whilst enjoying the flavours of a special menu by top chef, Matthew Barrett. Guests will be able to enjoy flavours of the Mediterranean in a relaxed social environment, whilst the world's best cyclists approach the evening with a little more haste.

Packages are available for a minimum of two people (tables of 8 persons) and include:

A welcome drink on arrival
Informal dining with waitress service
VIP Car Parking
Official Programme
Hostess in attendance throughout the session
Dining is available during the evening sessions on Friday and Saturday and lunchtime on Sunday
Cost £50.00 + vat per person

Contact Rita Ballenca: +44 (0) 1372 464666

RELATED LINKS
Irish Are Coming to take on the World

Young Guns Looking for Success at Manchester

Los Angeles World Track Cup Report