Josiah got the better of Australian national team rider Jason Niblett and his Melbourne-based Malaysian team-mate, Azizul Hasni Awang, in the keirin final. Another member of the Australian sprint team, Scott Sunderland, was placed fourth.

The respective winners of the heats advanced to the final and Josiah was pleased to have come out tops in his pet event.

He also won the keirin competition in the Perth Grand Prix last November and chalked up a major upset to become the first non-Australian rider to win the Melbourne Cup on Wheels event last week.

Josiah was also the only Malaysian cyclist to reach the 200m sprint final and he finished fourth in the race won by Shane Perkins of Australia in 11.32.

The sprint and keirin are UCI-sanctioned events and offered ranking points to the riders.

”Niblett is currently one of the fastest Australians. He won medals in the last three World Cups and I am pleased to have finished ahead of him,” said Josiah from Tasmania yesterday.

“I’m quite suprised with my form as I’m still kind of sick with flu. But I guess I have been doing my homework well and I have also taken care of myself well.”

Josiah did not race in the team sprint. The Malaysian trio of Mohd Edrus Yunus, Azizul and Rizal Tisin finished third behind New Zealand and Australia.

Another rising talent in Malaysian track cycling, Fatehah Mustapa, earned cheers with victory in the 1,000m sprint final.

And Josiah’s winning streak also has a lot to do with the performances of his team-mates in the track team.

“I’m enjoying the competitition and racing with my team-mates. It’s good that there is one person from our side who is winning races,” he added.

The Tasmanian Christmas Carnivals circuit continues with another meet at the Launceston Silverdome tomorrow.

“It’s part of the annual year-end track meetings between Australia and New Zealand but they have invited the Malaysian and Hong Kong teams this time. There are about 10 or 11 races running in a single day and each of us try to do a few races,” said Josiah.

Cycling: Josiah wins his third successive race in Australia