Man to beat: Defending world champion Mark Loram

He said: "It's fantastic for this sport and we haven't seen anything like this since the days of Wembley.

"Ole Olsen (the GP Race Director) and everyone at (promoters) Benfield Sports International have done a superb job in taking the Grand Prix series forward over the last couple of years.

Meanwhile, Peter Karlsson has lost his fight to recover his fitness for Saturday night's showpiece event.

Withdrawn

The King's Lynn rider came fifth in the GP season opener in Germany a month ago but suffered a dislocated hip in his club's Elite League match with Oxford 10 days ago.

The Swede collided with Lukas Drymi before crashing into the fence and Karlsson was taken home by air ambulance this week. After a body scan he has now withdrawn from the event.

Karlsson's replacement is Poland's Gregorz Walasek and the Poole Pirates rider will want to make the most of his unexpected opportunity.

Walasek's compatriot Tomasz Gollob goes into the event leading the world championship after his victory in the first of the six major GPs of the season.

But with the likes of the defending world champion, Britain's Mark Loram, Sweden's Tony Rickardsson and American Billy Hamill in pursuit, the Pole faces a tough challenge if he is to hold onto his lead.

Race schedule:

Heat 1:
Brian Anderson (No.19, Den)
Niklas Klingberg (No.21, Swe)
Chris Louis (No.10, GB)
Scott Nicholls (No.24, GB)

Heat 2:
Carl Stonehewer (No.12, GB)
Piotr Protasiewicz (No.16, Pol)
Andy Smith (No.20, GB)
Martin Dugard (No.23, GB)

Heat 3:
Matej Ferjan (No.22, Sloven)
Jason Crump (No.4, Aus)
Mikael Karlsson (No.15, Swe)
Henrik Gustafsson (No.25, Swe)

Heat 4:
Mark Loram (No.1, GB)
Billy Hamill (No.2, USA)
Rune Holta (No.14, Nor)
Jimmy Nilsen (No.17, Swe)

*Heats 5 to 10 tba.

Sweet Sixteen (heats 11 to 20):

Heat 11:
Tomasz Gollob (No.7, Pol)
Greg Hancock (No.5, USA)
+2

Heat 12:
Nicki Pedersen (No.13, Den)
Ryan Sullivan (No.9, Aus)
+2

Heat 13:
Tony Rickardsson (No.3, Swe)
Leigh Adams (No.6, Aus)
+2

Heat 14:
Gregor Walasek (No.26, Pol)
Todd Wiltshire (No.8, Aus)
+2

*Heats 15 to 20 tba.

Super Eights (heats 21 to 22):

Consolation Final:

Final Four: