Hoy keeps keirin victory,and sixth gold,in sight

Five-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy kept his bid for a history-making Kerrin gold on track at the Olympic velodrome.

Five-time Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy kept his bid for a history-making Kerrin gold on track at the Olympic velodrome as he surged into the second round of the competition.

If successful later today,Hoy could overtake Sir Steve Redgrave8217;s haul of five gold medals to become the first Briton to own six Olympic golds.

Hoy equalled Redgrave8217;s gold tally last week when he anchored Britain8217;s sprint team to victory on the opening night of track cycling.

Afterwards,the 36-year-old Scot played down the extent of his achievement.

8220;It8217;s amazing,but it8217;s just a number really. I still don8217;t think that anybody can better Steve8217;s record in terms of what he8217;s really achieved,8221; Hoy said of the British rowing great. 8220;It8217;s not just the number,it8217;s the way he did it and the fact it8217;s five consecutive Games.8221;

Hoy might have to change his tune,however.

He stood out from the rest of the field in his keirin heat,where he attacked early with only New Zealand8217;s Simon Van Velthooven able to follow his stunning turn of pace.

Joining the pair directly into the second round was Germany8217;s Maximilian Levy,Dutchman Teun Mulder,France8217;s Mickael Bourgain and Azizulhasni Awang of Malaysia.

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There was a scare for Australian medal contender Shane Perkins,who finally ended up securing his second round spot thanks to third place from a photo finish decision in his repeachages heat.

He was joined from repechages by Greek Christos Volikakis,Juan Peralta of Spain,Trinidad8217;s Njisane Phillip,Japan8217;s Kazunari Watanabe and Hersony Canelon of Venezuela.

The track cycling was to resume at 1500 GMT with the finals of the women8217;s sprint and omnium and the men8217;s keirin bringing the competition to a close.

American Sarah Hammer,a gold winner in the road race time trial and silver medal winner on the track in the team pursuit,led Britain8217;s Laura Trott in the omnium standings with two of the six races remaining.