Bolt raring for mouth-watering clash on home turf

Sprint megastar Usain Bolt has said he plans to perform at his best against some of the world's leading sprinters at the Racers Grand Prix here on Saturday.

Bolt is set to feature in a mouthwatering showdown with his countrymen Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Nickel Ashmeade and Kemar Bailey-Cole, the Commonwealth Games Champion, as well as the promising Askani Simbine of South Africa and Ramon Gittens from Barbados, reports CMC.

The double Olympic 100 metre champion says he plans to put on a show of speed and use the event as preparation for Jamaica's Senior Trials later this month.

"I take every race seriously. I go out there to win at all times. I am going to perform at my optimum best and it's a race that is leading up to the Trials," Bolt said during on Thursday.

"This race will make it more exciting when it comes to Trials, because then, you can tell who is in shape. Who needs to work on what. Then there will be another showdown which will be great at trials again".

Bolt is a double world record holder of the 100m and the 200m with times of 9.58 and 19.19 seconds, respectively.

He launched his season with 10.05 seconds at the Cayman Invitational followed by a seasonal best of 9.98 seconds at the Ostrava Golden Spike, and promises to run faster.

Bolt's training partner Blake, who has recovered from a long injury, will enter the race with the fastest time of 9.95 while Powell logged a wind-aided 9.94 seconds, but has a seasonal best of 10.04 seconds.

"It's going to be good. It pushes you to run faster and to bring out your best because they are running good and they have faster times than me this season,"he said.

"I am excited, I am looking forward to the competition. I thrive on competition and I am looking forward to it".

Bolt, who will be seeking an unprecedented three consecutive triple victories at the Olympics in August, said his preparation is far better than last season.

"I had a little setback earlier this season, but it's not as bad. I knew what the problem was," he explained.

"Now it's all about getting to race sharpness like last year, but I get a chance to race much more than I did last year".

--IANS

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