The FIM have formally confirmed the selection of Steve Worrall as Wild Card for the forthcoming British Grand Prix at Cardiff.
Worrall finished runner-up to GP regular Dan Bewley in Monday’s Sports Insure British Final at Belle Vue, handing him a ticket to the September 2 event at the Principality Stadium.
Track reserves for the British GP have also been announced as Anders Rowe and Jason Edwards.
*FIM STATEMENT: CARDIFF CALLING FOR BRITISH YOUNG GUNS ROWE & EDWARDS
British shooting stars Anders Rowe and Jason Edwards are set to live their FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff dreams after receiving call-ups for the nation’s biggest indoor motorsport event on September 2.
The young guns complete the line-up at the Principality Stadium, lining up as track reserves, with Rowe donning the No.17 race jacket and Edwards taking No.18. They will take to the track if any of the main 16 riders miss a race due to a starting offence, injury, illness or other reasons.
They join 2022 Cardiff winner Dan Bewley, triple Speedway GP world champion Tai Woffinden, former European champion Robert Lambert and wild card Steve Worrall in flying the GB flag in the Welsh capital showdown.
British Under-21 Championship runner-up Rowe started the year without a club in either of Britain’s top two leagues, but he is now in fine form for King’s Lynn in the Sports Insure Premiership and Cab Direct Championship leaders Poole.
He has also enjoyed some impressive moments on the world stage, starring on 17 points for Great Britain in the DeWalt FIM Speedway of Nations – SON2 team event in Riga last Friday, as well as reaching the Prague FIM SGP2 of Czech Republic semi-finals on June 2, scoring nine championship points.
The Weymouth-born, Swindon-based racer is delighted to realise a childhood dream and be part of one of world speedway’s flagship events.
He said: “I have been riding my socks off lately and having fun. Having the chance to race in Cardiff as a reward is a dream to me. I have dreamed of racing in Cardiff since I was a little kid. I am really looking forward to it.
“My idol growing up was Jason Crump, and then I watched Chris Holder and all the other top boys race there. It’s incredible in an arena that size.
“With so many fans in there going crazy, it gives you goosebumps. It gives you goosebumps as a fan. I can’t wait for that feeling as a rider. I hope I get a ride and I can go out there and mix it. I think I will definitely hear the fans. I won’t hear the bike – that’s for sure.
“I am going to take it all in and learn as much as I can from the experience. I will learn so much. I will keep learning and try to take as much as I can away from it, being in the pits and watching the top boys.
“If I get a ride, it’s a bonus. I will go out there and do my best – as I have been everywhere. I’ll be there with a smile on my face and if I get a ride, it will be an even bigger smile.
“It will be an awesome experience. I think I’ll love it. I can’t wait for Qualifying Practice on the Friday, to go out and spin some laps. I’ll go out there, have fun and see what time I put on the board.”
Edwards was second track reserve for the 2022 FIM SGP2 of Great Britain – Cardiff and had a very busy night, scoring six championship points as he impressed on the Principality Stadium track.
The Essex racer, who competes for Redcar Bears in the Cab Direct Championship, can’t wait to be part of the action in Cardiff again.
He said: “When I was SGP2 reserve last year, it was just really cool to have the whole experience of it all. I got practice and that was the coolest thing in the world. Then everybody just kept breaking the tapes, and that was absolutely brilliant for me because I kept getting rides!
“I get to do Speedway GP Qualifying Practice this time and just be around the whole thing. Not many people can say they have been part of the main event in Cardiff. It’s my last year in the under-21s, so to get the opportunity to do this is just unreal.
“When I was little, I used to go with my Jason Crump flag. Back then, there’s no way I would have thought I would be No.18 for this meeting. It’s the coolest event in the world.”
Tickets for the FIM Speedway GP of Great Britain – Cardiff are still available online. Secure your spot at Principality Stadium for September 2 HERE now.
*Meanwhile, British Youth boss Neil Vatcher has clarified the selection process for the track reserve positions, which have been traditionally handed to two of Great Britain’s up-and-coming stars.
It means they gain significant experience of being part of an FIM Grand Prix meeting, with the possibility of racing action should any of the regular line-up be penalised for starting offences or suffer the misfortune of withdrawal.
Vatcher said: “After considering of a number of riders, it was confirmed that Anders and Jason, who had both been in the top three scorers in the 2023 British Under-21 Final, would be selected.
“British Under-21 Champion Connor Bailey was also amongst the riders considered; however, after he turned down opportunities to represent Great Britain in the recent FIM Speedway of Nations 2, and to ride in the British Final, the decision was taken to select Anders and Jason.”