Injury hits UK’s speedway final bid

Britain’s Mark Loram will definitely miss Britain’s bid to make the speedway world cup final.

Loram, the 2000 world individual champion, crashed head-first into the starting gate as Britain slipped to second place in their qualifier at Sheffield on Sunday.

The whiplash he suffered will keep him out of the race-off, where Britain will face Finland, Denmark, the United States and Czech Republic, on Thursday at Peterborough.

His injury means Britain will be without their two top riders as Scott Nicholls is still on the sidelines with an ankle infection.

Grand Prix rider Carl Stonehewer has been drafted in to replace Loram and Sean Wilson will continue in place of Nicholls.

Britain needs a top two finish to make it through to Saturday’s final, also to be staged at Peterborough.

British team manager Neil Middleditch said: ” Carl and Sean won’t let us down and there is still a genuine feeling amongst the boys that we can get to the final – but we need the fans behind us. ”

Loram hasn’t ruled out his chances of being fit for the final if Britain can make it through.

The top two teams from Thursday will meet Australia, Sweden and Poland – who won last night’s qualifier at Eastbourne – in the final.