TRACK staff from Swindon's Abbey Stadium have been called in to help Cardiff prepare for the British Grand Prix on Saturday week (July 4).

The Millennium Stadium is putting on a behind-closed-doors dress rehearsal tomorrow (Tuesday) with 16 British non-GP riders due to contest a full 20-heat meeting.

The rakers, start-line staff and gate marshalls have all been drawn from the Swindon track team as have clerk of the course Mike Hunt and his deputy Andy Reynolds.

The two opening GPs run on temporary tracks in Warsaw and Finland this year both encountered problems.

In the past at Cardiff the grass was rolled out on its pallets; this year the grass will remain with the speedway track placed on top.

In the circumstances it was thought wise to hold a full-scale trial run.

Britain’s Tai Woffinden leads the series after three rounds in his bid to win a second world title.

There is added spice this year after a recent skirmish between Nicki Pedersen and current world champion Greg Hancock at a Swedish League meeting.

The Dane came from behind and seemed to take out Hancock’s front wheel.

Hancock then ran back to Pedersen and the normally cool American body-slammed his rival with both ending up grappling on the ground.

Pedersen has always been the enfant terrible of international speedway and he is sure to receive a unique reception at Cardiff!