Ashworth, the reigning Premier League Riders' Champion, will ride in one of the semi-finals at King's Lynn or his own Owlerton track.

And he's eager to reach the final at Wolves on Monday, June 14 as he prepares for his biggest season yet.

He said: "Obviously it would be nice for me to be drawn at Sheffield so I can enjoy home track advantage, but I honestly don't mind if I have to go to King's Lynn.

"In a funny way I would relish going there because it would shut those people up who bang on about home advantage and that I only won the PLRC because it was at Sheffield. I'm sick of hearing that.

"So if I was to go to King's Lynn and challenge for a top eight place then I really don't mind. I feel I am one of the top 16 British riders and it's down to me to prove that. If I fail to qualify for the final, then it will be my own fault."

Owlerton will host the first semi-final on Thursday, May 6 with the second semi at King's Lynn the following Wednesday, May 12.

The top non-Grand Prix rider in the British final will once again book their passage to Cardiff for the British Grand Prix at the Millennium Stadium on July 10. Coventry's Eddie Kennett did it last year and Wolverhampton's David Howe, now of Scunthorpe, the previous year.



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