A relaxed and joking Usain Bolt on Friday progressed smoothly into the 200m final at the world championships, putting behind him the dreadful false start that ruined his 100m hopes.

The Jamaican reigning world and Olympic champion, and world record holder (19.19sec), clocked 20.31sec and never looked in danger after an impeccable start.

He came off the bend well in front of the field and coasted through to the finish line, affording himself several glances over his shoulder at the chasing athletes, as he had also done in his morning heat.

Bolt, who admits he is not in world record shape this season, had insisted he would not dwell on the disappointment of his 100m disqualification.

And at a packed Daegu stadium, Bolt did not fail to entertain.

Goofing at the television cameras, preening his hair and striking his trademark lightning bolt pose, Bolt seemed relaxed and a world away from the desolate figure he cut after being disqualified from Sunday's 100m final.

As introductions were made on the stadium big screen, Bolt danced, gave a six-gun salute and even performed some karate moves, also motioning to the crowd with a finger to his lips to be quiet in tandom with the automated tannoy system.

When the screams and whistles died down, Bolt, wearing yellow spikes and loose singlet over black shorts, settled in his blocks and made no mistake on his departure, registering a relatively slow reaction time in an obvious 'play-safe' tactic.