BAPTISM OF FIRE FOR NEWTON

GERMANY saluted the birth of a new top six-day duo when firsttimer Andreas Beikirch partnered established star Andreas Kappes to win the 61st Dortmund Six.

It was Kappes' 23rd six-day win. The pair won by one lap, ahead of German-Italian pairing Rolf Aldag and Silvio Martinello, who had been leading the race with the highest points score.

The long-time winning partnership of Swiss duo Bruno Risi and Kurt Betschart were third, while the Australian team of Stuart O'Grady and Scott McGrory were fourth, two laps behind.

Britain's new world points champion, Chris Newton, endured a baptism of fire partnered by London's slightly more seasoned six-day rider

Bradley Wiggins, and the pair finished 14th at 38 laps.

"It was tough, I went into it blind," confessed Newton. "We lost five laps on the opening night."

It was Newton's first six and there was no rite of passage for the world points champion entering the twilight zone of six-day racing, with its 3am dinners and bedtime coming just before dawn.

The nightly programme from 7pm through to tam included two one-hour Madisons on the 200-metre track.

"With 30 riders hurtling around I found it difficult to find my partner. It was quite a narrow track, and it took a
bit of getting used to," Newton confessed.

"By the second night I was more used to it. The others looked after me and we won a few sprints in the sprint series, and were up there in the devils."

Newton said it was a challenging and a good experience. After a break he is looking forward to two more sixes in the New Year, at Berlin (January 24-29) and Copenhagen (February 1-6), where he won his world title.

This weekend he rides with the British World Class Performance Plan team in the Open des Nations at Bordeaux.

1. Andreas Beikirch Andreas Kappes (Ger), 364pt at 1 lap
2. R. Aldag (Ger)-S. Martinello 0ta), 447
3. B. Risi-K. Betschart (Swi), 341
4. at 2 laps, S. O'Grady--S. McGrory (Aus) 365
5. at 9 laps, M. Nothstein (USA)-M. Gilmore (Bel), 260
6. J. Madsen (Den)-T. Rund (Ger), 135
7. at 10 laps, G. Fulst-A. M0ller (Ger) 164
8. at 11 laps, D. Stam-R. Slippens (Hol) 183
9. at 12 laps, S. Steinweg-E. Weispfennig (Ger), 101
10. at 18 laps, L. Teutenberg-F. Kowatschitsch (Ger) 164
11. at 23 laps, C. Lademann-R. Lauke (Ger) 124
12. at 28 laps, F. Stocher-R. Garber (Rust) 53
13. at 33 laps, G. D6rich-M. Vonhof (Ger)
14. at 38 laps, C. Newton-B. Wiggins (GB) 75
15. at 39 laps, J.Lehmann-S. Siedler (Ger), 76.