September 9, 2006 (Dieppe, NB) – Martin Gilbert (QC) won the National Champion title today in the Scratch race, while Alberta’s Travis Smith and Auna Brit Ericksen took the respective titles in the Sprint race. Gina Grain, from BC, earned another National Championship jersey in the Women’s Points race. Tomorrow, the spectacular events of Keirin and Madison will close the 2006 Tim Hortons Track Nationals in Dieppe, New Brunswick.

Amateur junior and master track racers also had the opportunity to ride the newly refurbished Velodrome Caisse Populaire Dieppe today, with a Points race, a mixed Team Sprint and a Keirin event.

Men’s Scratch Race

1. Martin Gilbert (QC)
2. Zach Bell (YK), racing for Alberta
3. Travis Smith (AB)

“I had great objectives for my race yesterday and I have been disappointed, that’s why today I decided to secure my racing. I took the right lap with Zach (Bell) and Christian (Meier) when they attacked. Then Travis (Smith) became more and more threatening,” said Martin Gilbert (Chateauguay, QC), 2006 National Scratch Champion. “Then the five of us (Bell, Meier, Smith and Ontario’s Adam Thuss) lead the race. In the end, I followed Zach’s moves as I did not feel in top shape. I started to sprint and it worked out as I crossed the finish line! I will take part in the Madison with Zach tomorrow and feel confident as it is my favourite discipline.”

Women’s Points Race

1. Gina Grain (BC)
2. Laura (AB)
3. Natasha (AB)

Women’s Sprint

1. Auna Brit Ericksen (AB)
2. Sarah Kirby (BC)
3. Stephanie Roorda (AB)

“It was a fantastic day of racing. Stephanie gave me a really good challenge, as did Sarah. They’ve both been very aggressive,” said Alberta’s Auna Brit Ericksen. “I’m happy about how it turned out as it’s my first national title in Sprint (Brit Ericksen has earned four national titles overall in two years).”Tomorrow is my favourite race, the Keirin, and I hope I will reach my goal at the 2006 Track Nationals which is to win three gold medals (she won the kilo event on Thursday).”

Men’s Sprint

1. Travis Smith (AB)
2. Cam McKinnon (AB)
3. Matt Barlee (BC)

“In the first ride, Cam (McKinnon) went pretty hard too quickly and that went in my favour,” said Smith who is from Calgary, Alberta. “In the second heat, Cam did it really well, he kept it slower. I started to rush at him and it worked out. I’ve had more chances than he has to sprint during the season. With this kind of exciting racing, I anticipate really good challenges in the future,” added the 2006 Commonwealth Games Sprint bronze and Keirin silver medallist..

Like Brit Ericksen, Smith is looking forward to tomorrow’s Keirin race along with the Madison competition as part of the closing events.

Schedule
Tomorrow Sunday, September 10 is the final day of racing. The Keirin qualifications start at 10 am, followed by the Madison finals at 1:07 pm, and the Keirin finals at 2:32 pm.

Full official results, schedule updates and start lists visit:
www.atlanticcyclingcentre.com/track2006/

Photos are available at www.donricker.smugmug.com/gallery/1836443

Other detailed reports available at www.trackcycling.info