Talent Team duo set to experience 'wall of death'

TALENT Team trialists John Mapley and Mike Serafin ride into the unknown when they head off to an induction camp at the indoor velodrome in Calshot this weekend. Having won their places on the nationwide Talent Team scheme on the back of their mountain-biking skills, they are to get their first taste of indoor track racing.

Dave Harry, president of the Guernsey Velo Club, said exposing the boys to different elements of cycling could produce unexpected results.

'They try them in all sorts of disciplines to see at which they are best. For instance, Jamie Staff, the country's top track rider, started out on BMX.'

The Sarnians can look forward to riding a fixed-wheel bike, which they have never done, around a 146m track.

'It's a bit like a wall of death,' said Harry. 'But, as I told them, it's fantastic fun.'

In future Talent Team camps, Mapley and Serafin, who are both 16 in March, will be exposed to other disciplines, as well as the mountain-biking on which they have cut their teeth.

One of those disciplines is bike speedway, in which Britain has a strong tradition of doing well.