Becky James shocked by National Track Championship success

Becky James is targeting a place at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Becky James said she exceeded all her expectations by clinching two gold medals at the National Track Championships in Manchester.

The 19-year-old from Abergavenny stormed to the women's sprit title on Friday, capitalising on the absence of Olympic champion Victoria Pendleton.

And another faultless display secured gold in the keirin race on Sunday.

"A few weeks ago I was under the weather and thought I'd really struggle at the nationals," said James.

"My form wasn't great but then all of a sudden my form came. It was really good because I hadn't catered for the event because my main target is the Kazakhstan World Cup in four weeks' time.

"But to get through the nationals and get some really good times and racing out of it is exactly what I needed."

James' victories underlined her emergence as a serious contender to Pendleton for an Olympic place at the London 2012 games.

Pendleton, who took sprint gold in Beijing, opted to compete only in the women's team sprint at the nationals, which she duly won with Jess Varnish.

James beat Varnish in the sprint final, but the tables were turned in the 500m time trial as the 20-year-old edged out her younger rival.

And with such fierce competition for places James says the hard work has only just begun.

"Winning the nationals has given my a lot of confidence, but it's going to be really hard to get selected for the Olympics," she said.

"But I'm keeping my head down, training hard. If it all works out, then it works out. It's a good target to chase."