LONDON VAUXHALL DEALERS

As the team heads off to Austria this week for gruelling altitude training, this deficiency out of the blocks is one that will have to be remedied quickly.

Jürgen Grobler, the British men’s head coach, will not be unduly concerned. After all, a trio of serene World Cup victories

for the four, who won convincingly at this year’s instalments in Belgrade and Lucerne, could have risked the onset of complacency.

They could yet reassert their advantage in the final this afternoon, but the one final that truly matters in London already looks too close to call.

“It’s a bit of a kick up the backside,” Gregory acknowledged. “I’m not happy with the race, but it gives us extra motivation.”

James denied that the crew had been seeking to retain their energy yesterday. “I think you go out trying to make a statement even in the semi-final,” said the 28 year-old, who with Reed and Triggs Hodge won gold in the same category in Beijing in 2008. “Australia took their opportunity — we have to make sure that we go back and look at a few things. It’s not panic stations. We did a lot of the basics right.”

Asked if Britain had missed a chance to intimidate Australia in Munich, the last international regatta before the Olympics, James had to restrain himself. He was on his warm-down walk and wary of divulging tactics to the four’s main opposition, who had just jogged past. “We have laid down a lot of markers already,” he insisted. “If we win the final here, then we are in a very good position.”

The British squad are involved in 12 finals today, in what promises to be the most telling gauge yet of their readiness for the Games.

Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, who contest the first ‘A’ final, are the clear favourites in the women’s pair, while Katherine Grainger and Anna Watkins should also contribute a third consecutive triumph in the double sculls.

Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase, the fourth of Britain’s leading gold-medal hopes for London, sustained their renaissance in the lightweight men’s double after a slump in form by beating the Italian duo, both former world champions, into third in a formidable semi-final performance.

It is understood the exemption was extended to the whole weekend in Bedford but Gemili has decided to compete against his under-20 age group in the 200m on Sunday.

The decision on whether he doubles up at the senior trials and competes in the 200m on the Sunday will depend on how he recover from Sunday’s exertions.

UK Athletics head coach Charles van Commenee will be relieved that Gemili has chosen not to follow the path of Mark Lewis-Francis, who opted out of the 2000 Sydney Olympics to concentrate on the World Junior Championships in Chile that year.

After a lacklustre start to the season for British sprinting, Gemili’s breakthrough has been a welcome breath of fresh air. He heads the UK 100m rankings by a full 10th of a second from his nearest challenger, James Dasoulu, and the pair are the only athletes who have achieved the Olympic ‘A’ qualifying standard of 10.18sec this summer.

Gemili’s presence at the Olympic trials will heap further pressure on Dwain Chambers, who had been considered a shoo-in for selection in the individual 100m after he was cleared to compete at London 2012.

But, having led the UK rankings since 2008, Chambers is currently languishing in eighth place on this year’s UK list with a best time of 10.28sec.

Under UK Athletics rules, the first two athletes across the finish line will be guaranteed Olympic selection as long as they have run the ‘A’ standard since April 1 this year. A third place is available at the discretion of selectors.

After his stunning progress over 100m, all eyes will be on whether Gemili can reproduce the same kind of form over 200m today.

Earlier this season he set a lifetime best of 22.70sec in Florida but needs to find some extra speed if he is to reach the Olympic ‘A’ standard of 20.55sec.