Sir Chris Hoy remains optimistic despite the team sprint travails of Great Britain's men continuing on the opening day of the Track Cycling World Championships at the Hisense Arena in Melbourne.
Britain, the Olympic champions, travelled in search of a first world title in the three-man, three-lap event since 2005, but were disqualified after initially qualifying in fourth.
The takeover between Philip Hindes - the 19-year-old specialist starter drafted in for his World Championships debut - and second man Jason Kenny was deemed illegal and Britain were one of four of the 17 teams to be relegated.
Defending champions Germany, who had qualified second behind France, also fell foul to the officials. Australia were the team to benefit from Germany's demotion and claimed the hosts' only gold of the opening night's racing, beating France in the final by 0.001 seconds.
Hoy, though, believes Britain have potential and Hindes, born in Germany to a British father, could be a solution to the man one position - a problem since the retirement of Olympic champion Jamie Staff.
"Things happen and I want to give Phil a pat on the back, rather than make him the villain in this situation," Hoy said.
"It was a very easy mistake to make. I still think he did an amazing ride today and we should be pleased with his progression.
"His best was 17.9 (seconds) coming into the season. In the last few months he's already knocked four tenths of a second off that.
"He's only 19. You can make improvements week on week, almost - he has the potential to keep improving all the way up to London.
"It could be he is the star of the team sprint in a couple of months' time."