GLASGOW’S home guard are eyeing up an “awesome” day’s racing as the club hosts the British Championship semi-final on Sunday.
Richie Worrall, Ben Barker and Richard Lawson are among 16 riders bidding to qualify for the British Final.
Although the Tigers will start among the favourites, they’ll face stiff competition from the likes of Scott Nicholls – the seven-times champion – and last year’s runner-up Craig Cook among others.
Worrall missed out on last year’s final by a point and is determined to make sure he’s on the big stage this time around.
He says that fans are in for a treat given the strength of the line-up.
He said: “It’s going to be tough, and I know some of the guys haven’t seen the place before, but they’re all good riders. I’m pretty sure they’ll be able to adapt fast to Glasgow’s track.
“I’m going into this one unbeaten from the last two weeks. I missed out last year – one mistake made me miss the final – so if I have a steady day and get points in every race, and get to that final, that’s the main thing in my mind.
“It’s quite lucky on my part – the qualifier being at my home tracks of Glasgow and Belle Vue – although I think everybody’s got just as much of an idea as I have about getting around Belle Vue.”
“There should be some awesome racing.”
One man Worrall will be pitting himself against is twin brother Steve, who also lines up in Sunday’s meeting.
He added: “When we were younger we did have a big rivalry. He started before I did, and I played catch-up on in.
“There was a big rivalry because he was doing it longer than me and should have been better, but I caught him up.
“He had a bad year a couple of years ago, and from then on I’ve wanted to see him doing well. Obviously I want to beat him and I’m sure it’s mutual. We’ll both be going for it if it does come to us going head-to-head – I’ll treat him like anyone else.
“It’s not going to be easy and it’ll be a really good event for the fans. There should be some awesome racing.”
For Barker, it’s a case of getting the job done and ensuring he’s in the British Final – where he’s had two third places in recent years.
But he insists that going for the title is more important than securing a place as the wild card at the British Grand Prix at Cardiff – the prize for the highest finisher outwith GP star Chris Harris.
It’s also a chance to banish the ghosts of last year’s contest when he had a horrific fall at Wolverhampton and broke his neck.
Barker said: “It’s about qualifying for the British Championship. I’m going to go to Glasgow and enjoy it like I have been.
“I’ve had two third places so I’ve been on the podium a couple of times. Last year’s injury did really hurt – I’ve just got to put that to the back of the mind. It’s like any other meeting – I want to be there.
“I’ve just got to do what I can and if I run to my best, I’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of it.
“Cardiff is a fantastic meeting but I don’t look at the Cardiff prize. I don’t look at that at all. It’s an added extra. I want to be the British Champion and then racing at the Grand Prix is just an added bonus.”
The former Plymouth rider says he’s working to find more speed in his machines in order to get back to his best.
He added: “I’m too slow. I’m OK in the second, third and fourth laps but the first lap of my racing is at about 50%.”
The meeting starts at 3pm.